Alan Jones covers Sutton Trust new research, Better Apprenticeships, for Press Association.

Disadvantaged youngsters are less likely than their better-off peers to start the best apprenticeships, a new study reveals.

Research published by the Sutton Trust showed that seven per cent of young men and 11 per cent of young women who were eligible for free school meals take up a Higher-standard apprenticeship, compared to 14 per cent as a whole.

An analysis of what happened to over half a million young people in the 12 years to 2014/15 found a “stark” gender difference in earnings prospects.

Men aged 28 who took a higher level apprenticeship generally earned up to 37 per cent more than their peers who left school after taking Highers, while the figure for women was 9 per cent.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: “Today’s report raises serious concerns as to how much apprenticeships play a role in improving social mobility.

“The Government’s target for apprenticeships to 2020 is three million. More of these need to be high quality apprenticeships which offer genuine alternatives to A-levels and degrees.

“There are fewer than 8,000 higher and degree level apprenticeships taken up by young people each year compared to 330,000 taking up degree courses.

“It is also very concerning that people from low and moderate income backgrounds are much less likely than their peers to take up high quality apprenticeships.”

The research was conducted by the Centre for Vocational Education Research at LSE and UCL Institute of Education.

Read the full article here and find the report here.