Vince Cable has celebrated the coalition’s “investment in apprenticeships” as National Apprenticeship Week kicks off today.

The business secretary said he was “very proud” of the government’s commitment to boosting apprentice schemes, despite contemporary financial constraints, and was keen to promote the benefit of such programmes to small business employers.

“Not only do [apprenticeships] provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses’ profits and drive growth in the wider economy,” Cable said.

The minister for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills will attend the official launch of Apprenticeship Week at Channel 4’ headquarters today, where he is expected to stress the importance of apprenticeships in the creative industries.

Commenting on a pledge by the National Apprenticeships Service and Skillset – the creative industries’ skills council – to create 500 apprenticeships in 300 businesses from September, Cable said:

“We support all the work they are doing to increase the number of apprenticeships in the sector, particularly in small businesses.

“We are providing extra help to enable small employers to hire their first apprentices [and] will continue to develop new advanced and higher-level apprenticeships to deliver the world-class skills individuals and firms need to get ahead.”

Over 500 events are expected to take place across England this week, to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to employers. These precede the introduction of a £1,500 incentive payment next week, to encourage small businesses considering taking on their first apprentice in 2012 or 2013.

However, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has warned that the quality of apprenticeships will be key to their long-term sustainability.

CIPD adviser Katerina Rudiger said: “Good quality apprenticeships can offer an alternative, high-quality route into work and help improve youth employability. They are also a useful tool to achieve a more balanced skills profile in the UK.

“But if employers who’ve never hired apprentices before are being incentivised to do so, it’s vital that they get the guidance they need to ensure the apprenticeships service the needs of employers and employees alike.”

For more information on apprenticeships or to take part in one of this week’s events, visit the National Apprenticeship Week website