Apprenticeship schemes need to be monitored to check they are providing the employee benefits expected from such a scheme.

This is the opinion of Spencer Mehlman, managing director of website for those thinking of going straight into work from school notgoingtouni.co.uk, who said the problem with many placements is not that they are not long enough, but that they are not of a high enough quality.

The National Audit Office recently reported one in five apprenticeships last no longer than six months and most positions have gone to individuals over the age of 25.

This suggests the schemes are increasingly being used to train individuals who are already in work, rather than help school leavers into the labour market.

But Mr Mehlman said in the run up to National Apprenticeship Week 2012, which starts on Monday (February 6th), “it seems especially churlish … to look at the fact some apprenticeships are more equal than others”.

“Provided the courses are rigorously assessed and students look closely at what a course entails, then even short courses that mix theoretical and practical learning can be useful in preparing people for work,” he explained.

Regardless of whether one programme is not as good as another, that does not mean there will not be any employment benefits to them as they may still turn out to be helpful to someone looking for work.

Mr Mehlman said he and notgoingtouni.co.uk hope more apprenticeships will be offered to Britain’s young people in the future.

It would be ideal for the government, employers and schools to work together as part of a “sustained campaign” to provide placements in millions of companies.

“Apprenticeships work – and the different groups need to make sure they are supported and developed,” he argued.

National Apprenticeship Week 2012 will continue until February 10th and has been arranged to raise the profile of such placements among individuals, parents, schools, firms and the media.