Mr Richard’s review will look at how apprenticeships can continue to meet the needs of the changing economy, to deliver high quality training and skills and to maximise the impact of government investment.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education selected Richard, a senior figure in the UK and global business communities, for its 20 year experience in both business and business education (his social enterprise, School for Startups, has supported thousands of business owners).

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “In the past vocational youngsters have been let down by weak courses and our competitors have stolen a march – in Germany two-thirds of young people take some form of apprenticeship by the time they are 25. To keep pace it is vital that we build on our initial success and continue to look at how apprenticeships can adapt to meet our future needs.”

This is not Richard’s first review for the government. In 2008, he produced a report that investigated the government’s support to small businesses.

Richard commented: “As an entrepreneur, but also as an educator, I am convinced of the importance of business education in helping not only individuals but society at large. For our economy to recover and flourish, we need a workforce that possesses the requisite skills of twenty-first century commerce and industry. A strong apprenticeship programme is essential in delivering that.”