After the exam results...the future really begins, says DAVID HARBOURNE, director of the Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire.

FOR some families the champagne (or soft drink equivalent!) was flowing as yesterday sons and daughters achieved the A-level results they were hoping for.

But what about young people facing uncertainty this week after they didn't get the grades that they wanted?

Thankfully, there is a lot of good advice and guidance for young people. Schools, colleges and universities are rich sources of support, as is the Connexions Helpline on 08000 323272, and there is an excellent website at www.connexionsyorkandnorthyorkshire.org.uk.

A growing number of quality training options are also available to young people, leading to sustainable and rewarding careers.

Now in its tenth year, the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) highly successful apprenticeship programme boasts 255,000 apprentices in training across the UK and a further 32,000 young people in Entry To Employment, a feeder route to apprenticeships

Far from being a clever way of disguising youth unemployment, a great deal has been achieved in the decade of apprenticeships which give young people and adults "on the job" training as they earn a wage and are pivotal in building a skilled workforce for the future.

However, the LSC recognised that more work was needed, especially in improving quality and completion rates, engaging more employers in the programme and tackling equal opportunity issues.

A new framework of apprenticeships has been developed, starting with the Young apprenticeships which offers high-quality opportunities for motivated pupils. The pre-apprenticeship programme is for young people with potential but who may not yet be ready or able to start a full apprenticeship. Post-16 apprenticeships build on the strengths already developed through the modern apprenticeships and advanced modern apprenticeships.

The 25-year-old age limit is gradually being removed to offer the opportunity to a much broader group of learners.

The new apprenticeships offer an important opportunity for us to work in partnership with businesses in York and North Yorkshire to ensure that skills shortages will soon become a thing of the past.

So, when your child wants to discuss his or her future options for education and training, consider recommending that they launch their career through an Apprenticeship. Phone the Learning Helpline on 0800 515547 for a copy of the new training prospectus for young people. If you are an employer, be sure not to overlook this golden opportunity to build a skilled and highly trained workforce.

For further information employers should phone the national Apprenticeship helpline on 08000 150 400 or visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Updated: 11:59 Friday, August 20, 2004