The number of young people signing up to learn advanced skills on higher apprenticeships have increased, new data has revealed.

According to the latest government figures, more than 30,000 youngsters decided to embark on the training schemes between August 2015 and January 2016.

Apprenticeships have also seen a rise in popularity, the statistics show, with over 84,000 starts by people under the age of 19 over the same period.

These findings mean that since May 2010, some 2.7 million apprenticeships of all levels have been started up and down the country, helping workers to boost their careers.

In addition, between August 2015 and January 2016, there were 12,400 starts in traineeships, which prepare young people for jobs and further training.

Launched in 2015, higher apprenticeships allow participants to learn vital skills on the job at the same time as studying for qualifications such as a Foundation Degree or BTEC.

The programmes give learners the opportunity to develop the high-tech expertise that employers in a range of sectors need, including construction.

They can also bring a range of benefits to businesses of all sizes, improving productivity and boosting levels of staff retention as loyalty increases.

In the building sector, higher apprenticeships can help firms to train up their employees for top-level jobs, such as construction operations managers.

They can also prepare workers for positions in architecture, surveying, planning, maintenance, building maintenance and civil engineering, among others.

It is hoped the schemes will play a significant role in helping to plug the skills gap currently affecting the construction industry.

Figures from the CITB show that 232,000 jobs are set to be created over the next five years on the back of an annual average growth rate of 2.5%.