by Malcolm Hyde, regional director of the CBI South East

In the wake of the recent reception hosted by the KM Group, where the Duke of York endorsed the Kick Start Kent campaign, it is timely and fitting for me use this column by way of support.

Apprenticeships have always supported young people on the first steps of their careers.

But over the years, they lost their appeal in the eyes of some, and it’s only in more recent times that attitudes have rightly swung back in favour of boosting apprenticeship take-up.

Last week was National Apprenticeships Week which provided the ideal opportunity to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have on young talent, businesses and the wider economy.

A recent survey showed the flip side of economic growth is a widening skills gaps – skills shortage vacancies have doubled since 2009.

Encouraging more firms to benefit from apprenticeships will be critical to tackling this skills crunch, in part because of the combination of training they deliver.

People are taught technical skills and knowledge, coupled with transferable skills and behaviours that can apply to many other posts, in many other industries.

By allowing people to take their first steps on the career ladder, more apprenticeships can help move us towards growth.

"Encouraging more firms to benefit from apprenticeships will be critical to tackling this skills crunch, in part because of the combination of training they deliver..."

There is some great work going on out there – the 5% Club, made up of some of the UK’s biggest employers, is focused on industry playing an active part in addressing youth unemployment and the chronic skills shortage we face.

Its members are companies whose workforce is made up of at least 5% young people on structured training schemes over the next five years, including apprenticeships.

In fact, two-fifths of CBI members intend to boost their apprenticeship in-take for 2014. But we still need to convince more people and companies of their worth.

That’s why reforming the apprenticeship system is so important – we have a chance to establish a truly demand-led scheme that makes businesses and individuals the customers of the system, rather than just leaving it to the government to call the tune.

Any reformed system must first and foremost be simple to access, making it easier for firms – small as well as large – to take on apprentices.

The long-term pay-off to the government in terms of future tax revenue is substantial.

I’m in no doubt that we have to seize this moment on apprenticeships and if we can get a system that meets the needs of both British business and young people, then the potential prize is huge.