Tracey has welcomed new statistics that show a record number of people in Chatham & Aylesford started apprenticeships in 2011/12. In the last financial year 900 people started an apprenticeship across the constituency- an increase of 114% per cent since 2010.

The data also indicates provisional results for the number of apprenticeship started between August-October of 2012, whereby 240 people started apprenticeships in just three months.

In light of these figures, Tracey said:

“I am a strong supporter of apprenticeships and these figures are very welcome news. I regularly have the pleasure of visiting many Apprenticeship schemes in my constituency and just today I met young Apprentices at the Medway Queen Preservation Society to give my support to their fantastic project. The nature of a work-based programme that combines practical training with study is a fantastic way of engaging and preparing young people for the world of work.”