LANCASHIRE aerospace giant BAE Systems has been praised for helping to make the North West the country’s leading reg-ion for apprenticeships.

New figures show that BAE has 663 apprentices training in the North West, including at its Samlesbury site.

The Government figures showed that the 249,860 people on apprenticeships in the North West made up more than a sixth of all apprentices in England.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle, one of the Government’s apprenticeship ambassadors, said it was ‘fantastic news’.

He said: “I’m over the moon with these figures. It is fantastic news for the economy, and for young people, that there are apprent-iceships available.

“BAE are a great company and they really understand that fut-ure skills are vital to the industry, and they are investing in that.”

All of the BAE apprentices study NVQ-level qualifications, and almost 15,000 people app-lied for the 83 apprenticeship vacancies the company had to fill this year.

Chris Boardman, managing director of BAE Systems’ Mil-itary Air and Information, said: “I believe there is nothing bett-er than an apprenticeship for giving people the right skills to do the job.

“It gives our young people a great foundation in life. Every time I meet an apprentice, I am always proud of not just the skills we give people, but the ability for them to stand out in society.”