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To coincide with the start of Apprenticeship Week (6 - 10 February), NIACE has published The apprentices' journey - a report analysing the experiences of the 81 learners who were nominated for last year's Adult Apprentice of the Year Award, which was sponsored by Pearson for Adult Learners' Week.

Carol Taylor, Director of Development and Research at NIACE, said:

NIACE is concerned over the latest fall in the number of adults who are involved in Personal and Community Development Learning, as reported this week in the Quarterly Statistical First Release from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

David Hughes, Chief Executive of NIACE, said:

To celebrate the launch of the eight new Quick Reads titles on Wednesday 1 February 2011, NIACE is encouraging organisations across the country to hold events to inspire new and reluctant readers to develop a love of reading. Reading Breaks and Family Reading Breaks, are accompanied by free downloadable resources to help make them a success.

NIACE welcomes the statement made by the National Audit Office on Wednesday 1 February 2011, that ‘Apprenticeships for adults offer a good return for the public money spent on them overall'.

David Hughes, Chief Executive of NIACE, said:

"The increase in adult apprenticeships is great news. NIACE is pleased that the National Audit Office confirms the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' view of there being a public value of adult apprenticeships and endorses their prioritisation. The Government has been ambitious with this apprenticeship programme and the National Audit Office report illustrates that such ambition is well-placed."

Supporting young adult care leavers into work - to be held in London on Thursday 9 February - will address what changes need to take place to improve education and work opportunities for young adults leaving care. Despite new legislation in the last three years to help achieve this:

• the number of care leavers aged 19, not in education, training or employment, has increased by 5% since 2009 and by 26% since 2006;
• 33% of looked-after children aged 19 are not in education, training or employment; and
• only 12% of children in care achieve five A*-C GCSEs, including maths and English, compared with 53% of all children.