Shadow business secretary John Denham today unveiled a 'jobs for contracts' plan under which any company seeking public sector work, including construction projects, would have to prove it had an apprentice scheme in place.

Mr Denham said Government, which spends £220bn a year on goods and services, should use its bargaining position with private sector suppliers to help young people improve their skills and get good jobs at a time when record numbers are out of work and facing a challenging future.