Announcing the results yesterday, business secretary Vince Cable said: "The growth in apprenticeships to over double the planned ambition, including sectors such as IT, advanced manufacturing and engineering, demonstrates our commitment to delivering the skills businesses need to grow and young people need to build productive careers.
"We are determined to do more to boost growth, rebalance the economy, extend opportunity and break down barriers between academic and vocational learning."
The Government has pledged investment for a further 360,000 apprenticeships in 2011.
But Chris Ball, chief executive of The Age and Employment Network (TAEN), said: "The figures for 2009/10 show that only 1.8% of those people enrolled on apprenticeships are over the age of 50.
"While this percentage figure may seem small, it is an increase over the previous year. The overall numbers of people aged over 50 enrolled on apprenticeships increased from 5,376 in 2008/9 to 8,900 in 2009/10.
"Employers who are giving older workers the opportunity to undertake apprenticeships should be applauded."
