AS part of National Apprenticeship Week, Worcester's MP Robin Walker visited one of the city's successful software developers Titania in St Mary's Street . He was accompanied by Derrin Kent of training provider TDM Wyre Academy and Helena Baxter, chair of Worcestershire Training Providers Association. The trio sat down with all Titania’s apprentices and the firm's directors to discuss apprenticeships and the positive effects the system had on the company as well as on the apprentices' careers.

Mr Walker said the number of apprentices in the Worcester area had increased from 470 in 2010 to being on track for more than 1,000 this year and added: "Because of their success 'pprenticeships are definitely here to stay, as in politics the importance of apprenticeships is something everyone seems to understand, despite party divisions on other issues."

Titania chief executive Ian Whiting said, '"Recruitment in our industry is very difficult and being provided with enthusiastic, capable young people, who have already been vetted and qualified by apprenticeship providers like TDM is a massive help. This means that we have really strong candidates who we can train to grow alongside the company and develop a career with us."

Titania currently employs two apprentices, Luke Willmore in the accounts department and Max MacFarlane in the software development team. Edwin Bentley who completed his apprenticeship two years ago with Titania also stayed on to take a full time role with the company and the company hopes to train many more apprentices as it continues to expand.