The chancellor George Osborne has announced that the government will increase the investment in apprenticeships by more than 50 per cent - leading to an extra 75,000 people a year to finding employment through the apprenticeship scheme by 2014.
Revealing the government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in parliament today, Osborne highlighted skills and education as a priory area of increased investment.
Osborne said that the Department of Work and Pensions would be tasked to find savings of around £7bn from the annual welfare budget of £200bn to fund the investment in skills.
Commenting the announcement, Florence Orban, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, said: "We are delighted that George Osbourne has announced increased investment for apprenticeship schemes.
"The aim to create at least 75,000 new apprenticeships each year is exactly the backing we have been waiting for and are thoroughly looking forward to continuing to be involved in their creation.
"Although unemployment will continue to be an issue throughout this recession, we hope the introduction of the government's new work programme will bring the support needed for our young and long-term unemployed.
"We look forward to continuing our work with them to support these young people get back onto the career ladder.
"Our industry has proven it has the ability to create jobs, and with the emphasis on supporting and improving the health of the nation, the government will undoubtedly be looking to us, we need to ensure we have the right people with the right skills in place to deliver."
Elsewhere, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is to see its resource budget reduced to £1.1bn by 2014-15, although the role of the arts, heritage and sports as a key economic driver has been recognised by the chancellor.
Free entry to museums and galleries is to be retained, while there was a pledge by Osborne to complete schemes at the Tate Gallery and the British Museum, with further projects to be announced by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt.
However, all national museums face a 15 per cent cut in funding over the next four years.
Delivering the plans for the cuts in the DCMS budget, Osborne said: "All of this is being done so we can limit four year reductions to 15 per cent in core programmes like our national museums, the frontline funding provided to our arts and Sport England's Whole Sport plans."
Elsewhere within the DCMS' remit, administration cuts are to be cut by 41 per cent, while the level of funding that is made available for 'core programmes' will go down by 15 per cent.
The chancellor also reiterated the government's commitment to an ongoing provision of £9.3bn towards the delivery of a safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
British Olympic Association chair Colin Moynihan said: "In this difficult economic climate we welcome the government’s continued support for the key elements of the London 2012 Olympic Games programme.
"The BOA recognises that it is important now more than ever, for all stakeholders in sport to utilise resources in the most cost-effective way."
However, Arts Council England (ACE) has revealed that it is currently facing a 29.6 per cent cut to its budget as a result of the spending review.
ACE chief executive Alan Davey said: "We will now be analysing the details of the settlement and the consequences for the arts in this country as a whole.
"It will be a tough task but we are determined to manage the cuts in the best possible way for the benefit of the whole arts and cultural sector."
Sport England has announced plans to combat a 33 per cent cut in grant in aid revenue funding by 2014-15, which includes a 50 per cent reduction in adminstration cuts.
The organisation will also reduce its grant in aid budget for national governing bodies for the 2013-17 funding cycle by up to 15 per cent.
Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said: "In our discussions with DCMS, we underlined the importance of protecting our core investment in 46 sports, and I am pleased that this is reflected in our settlement.
"We also welcome the government's Lottery reforms, which will bring considerable additional funding into grassroots sport
Also in the chancellor's speech was a commitment to establishing Britain as "a leader of the new green economy", with £1bn set aside for a Green Investment Bank.
Osborne added that he hoped the scheme would attract further funding from the private sector, in addition to proceeds from the future sale of government assets.
Commenting on the CSR, Martin Barratt, chief executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA), said: "I was not surprised to learn that the Government will continue to fund free entry to museums, it's in the coalition document and is therefore considered sacrosanct even though it's barmy.
"More significant is the 41 per cent cut to the DCMS budget, especially since 97 per cent of DCMS spending goes on the agencies it supports, such as VisitBritain and VisitEngland.
"We're heading into a period when the effort to market England will rely less on Government agencies and more on the initiative of groups of attraction operators."
James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland added: "Today the DCMS confirmed VisitEngland’s funding will be reduced by 34 per cent over the next four years. The budget for next year will be £9.2m.
"We are already well prepared to adapt our business model to this cut and will ensure VisitEngland continues to meet our fundamental goal to grow the value of domestic tourism.
"England's Strategic Framework for Tourism, launched earlier this year continues as our blueprint for growth.
"The Tourism Minister will launch the government’s tourism strategy at the end of the year and this will be another opportunity for us to continue to work closely together to boost tourism in England.
"An immediate focus for VisitEngland is to work with the Minister, his team and the industry to provide solutions that will ensure tourism is supported throughout the country as the Regional Development Agencies’ funding for tourism ceases.
"With agreement across Government departments, we have set up a transition team to ensure, wherever possible, key tourism functions continue at a local level and will engage the emerging Local Enterprise Partnerships as they confirm their approach to tourism."
More to follow...
