16,000 new apprenticeships unveiled by Morrisons, Whitbread, and National Grid - as Tories pledge millions more

A total of 16,000 new apprenticeships will be created under plans by major companies across construction, engineering and the retail sectors, David Cameron will announce today - as he promises to create millions more if the Tories win the election.

The Prime Minister will be hitting the campaign trail with Tory peer and The Apprentice star Baroness Karren Brady to unveil the places being created by Morrisons, National Grid and Dairy Crest.

He said the Conservatives had created more than two million apprenticeships since coming to power in 2010, and wanted to more than double that figure if voted in again on May 7.

Apprenticeships should be considered to be on a level with a university degree, he added.

Among the places being announced today are 9,000 training positions with Morrisons to be created over the next five years; 6,000 hired by Whitbread, 500 by National Grid and 200 by Dairy Crest, which will also open a dedicated training academy.

Mr Cameron pledged that a Conservative government would help companies create three million more if they win a second term.

Baroness Brady welcomed the announcement, saying that apprenticeships were a "fantastic boost" for young people's long-term career prospects.