MORE must be done to encourage young people to take up apprenticeships, according to a key Worcestershire County Council report.

An in-house review has been published revealing how a surge in apprenticeships has boosted the economy, reduced the unemployment rate and done wonders for teenagers.

Now a series of new recommendations have been made for where the county should be going to make even greater headway on it.

The report says schools in Worcestershire must accept career advice "as a major priority" despite financial pressures and the council must work more closely with schools to ensure further education is not pushed as "the only route for progression".

It also says visits should be made to schools by role models who can promote apprenticeships, and notice boards should have details on the value of them, how they work and publicise famous people who started off their careers via one.

The report, which runs to 26 pages, is being sent to the council's Conservative leadership to see if it is prepared to back it with any funds.

It reveals how huge efforts to create more apprenticeships in Worcestershire has paid off, rising 110 per cent in two years.

In 2011 it stood at 2,000 but the figure has continued to rise and is on track to surge past 7,000 this year.

It also reveals that research by Warwick University on behalf of the council has flagged up concerns from young people often viewing apprenticeships "negatively", possibly as a result of poor careers advice.

It also says that despite the surge in popularity, a survey of 3,000 people by Worcestershire's Youth Cabinet revealed that only 25 per cent of pupils felt their schools promoted apprenticeships.

The report says the council should have "grave concerns" about the data, which will be debated by the Conservative cabinet this spring.

The report was led by Councillor Ken Pollock, who chairs the economy, environment and communities scrutiny panel.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, deputy leader and cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure said: "I think it's an excellent piece of work and there's obviously things for us to pick up."