Statistics published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) show that an additional 103,000 adults started apprenticeships in 2010/11, compared to the previous year, giving a total of 257,000.

However, Terry Watts, chief executive of Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the Process and Manufacturing Industries, said that he had not seen a significant increase in the number of apprenticeships within the print and paper industries.

He said: "We do not get formal notification until an apprenticeship has actually finished but I have not been hearing anecdotally about a large influx, which is very disappointing."

Watts added that owners and managers tended to be sceptical about the beneficial impact apprenticeships would have on their business.

"The apprenticeship programme is very beneficial but a lot of companies assume that it is too bureaucratic and cumbersome, and that staff that are tasked with training the apprentice will spend too much time away from the work that they are supposed to be doing," he said.

"The evidence does not support these views at all. The comments we have had back from employers suggest that apprentices are a breath of fresh air."

Research published by Proskills among companies in the manufacturing industry found that 76% reported seeing productivity improvements when they took on apprentices and 80% saw reduced staff turnover.

The Government funds 100% of the cost of training for 16 to 18 year old apprentices and up to 50% of the cost of training for those aged from 19 to 24. The average pay for an apprentice is £170 per week.

The Government is committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships by 250,000 by the end of the current Parliament, in 2015.