Skills for Care is throwing its full weight behind National Apprenticeship Week, after the number of adult social care apprentices in 2012-13 smashed through the 70,000 barrier.
Some 73,100 people started a social care apprenticeship last year, joining the many thousands more who are already learning while they are earning.
The Skills for Care chief executive, Sharon Allen, said: "National Apprenticeship Week is the perfect time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of all our apprentices and our network of apprenticeship employer champions who support them through their learning."
She added: "Our sector might be the third biggest employer of apprentices in England but we can't rest on our laurels as we have up to one million jobs roles to fill by 2025.
"So we will be going all out this week to recruit and retain the next generation of apprentices who can develop long term careers in a rewarding sector."
To help raise awareness about programmes in social care, Skills for Care has created an infographic which breaks down the facts about working in care. It promotes the benefits of doing an apprenticeship in a sector which has more than 25 different types of job roles to choose from.
The graphic also highlights the fact that more than 96% of care workers feel that their work makes a difference, and that there are opportunities to progress to a higher apprenticeship in social care.
A national bus and radio campaign, which has been launched for National Apprenticeship Week, highlights that, with an apprenticeship, you can earn while you learn and achieve nationally recognised qualifications whilst gaining invaluable work experience.
Skills for Care has launched and updated a suite of apprenticeship resources for social care employers and job seekers. A factsheet has also been sent this week to more than 4,000 school and college career advisers. It clarifies that people aged 16 to 18 can work in the sector, and promotes the benefits of high job security and flexible work options whilst working in social care.
There are opportunities for social care apprentices and their employers to get involved on social media throughout National Apprenticeship Week by using the hashtag #NAW2014.
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