Hundreds more were put off apprenticeships and adult education last year after the government slashed funding for learners over 24, official figures revealed yesterday. 

Business Department statistics show the number of adults in further education plummeted by 10.7 per cent, while apprenticeship numbers also fell by over 13 per cent.

The fall comes after the Con-Dems cut grants for adults in April and replaced them with loans that leave learners facing future debts. 

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Sally Hunt said the policy had a “devastating impact on learner numbers.”

“We should be doing everything we can to encourage people back into education and training. The time has come for a complete rethink of loans and the funding system in further education,” added Ms Hunt. 

The Business Department argued that it pulled apprenticeships out of the loans programme after these proved not to be “the preferred route for employers or prospective apprentices.”

A government spokeswoman added: “We look forward to seeing this trend reverse in future.”

The embarrassing results came as a blow to the coalition government, which has held apprenticeships at the core of its education policies.

This week Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey announced the beginning of a new set of degree apprenticeships, which would allow students to study and train at the same time.

BT, Ford and IBM were listed as some of the companies ready to embrace the new scheme.