Boris Johnson targets banks in apprenticeships drive

Boris Johnson today wrote to the City's top financial firms urging them to help create more than 20,000 new apprenticeships.

The Mayor targeted banks and accountancy firms in his bid to get more Londoners into work and boost the economy.

Companies including Lloyds, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, PriceWaterhouseCooper and Deloitte were all on his hit list.

The campaign is focused on businesses in sectors that are not traditionally linked to apprenticeships to highlight the range of roles available.

He has also written to firms in the creative industries and IT sectors including Warner Music Group, BSkyB, Google and Apple.

Mr Johnson said: "It has never been more important to invest in skilling London's workforce for the future to drive our economy forward and ensure London remains competitive on the global stage.

"We've come a long way since the archetypal apprentice was male, boiler-suited and hammered metal in a workshop. I hope employers will hear my call, step up to the plate and take decisive action today."

London has 14 per cent of Britain's population but only provides five per cent of the yearly total of new apprenticeships.

The Mayor has created more than 1,000 apprenticeships across his City Hall empire and hopes for 3,000 by 2012.