The latest figures reveal that there has been a rise of nearly a third in the number of workplaces employing Apprentices since 2010. Before the last election 320 workplaces in Sutton offered apprenticeship schemes - a figure which has now risen to 420. These figures are another positive indication that the jobs market in Sutton Coldfield, and nationally, is looking up following recent figures that show that unemployment in Sutton Coldfield has fallen from 1,588 in May 2010 to 937 in March 2014. Among young people the proportional reduction is even greater, with an almost fifty percent reduction from 435 in May 2010 to 215 in March. These figures follow a national reduction in unemployment by 77,000 in the first quarter of this year, and the creation of 1.7 million new private sector jobs since the last election. The West Midlands area will benefit further from 8,000 new jobs announced last week in Birmingham as a result of the expansion of Birmingham Airport. Business confidence in Sutton Coldfield and the wider Birmingham area is also improving, with the latest survey from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce reporting that more service sector firms are looking to take on staff and that turnover, profitability and confidence across manufacturing and service sectors has increased dramatically. In Sutton itself, local MP Andrew Mitchell is hoping to build on this improvement by hosting a Jobs and Careers Fair, which will take place at the Sutton Coldfield Town Hall on 18 July and will feature local and national business offering vacancies and apprenticeship schemes. Commenting on the recent figures, Andrew Mitchell said “It is very welcome to see unemployment continue to fall in Sutton Coldfield especially for young people. There is still more to do but these figures show the Conservatives’ economic plan is working. We cannot risk turning back on the good progress Britain is making”.