Leader Ed Miliband today pledged that every school leaver with the equivalent of two A levels would be guaranteed an apprenticeship if Labour wins the election.

He set out Labour’s Plan for Prosperity, which will require an extra 80,000 apprenticeships by 2020, in a speech setting out his business strategy for the general election.

“At the moment just one in 10 employers in England offers an apprenticeship,” said Miliband

“There are, in fact, six times fewer high quality apprenticeships than in Germany.”

He said: “It is time to match the aspirations of our young people with the high-quality apprenticeships they deserve. So today I can announce: under the next Labour government, if you get the grades at 18, you will be guaranteed an apprenticeship.”

Miliband said that to ensure increased supply, large companies hiring skilled workers from outside the EU or bidding for government contracts would be required to offer apprenticeships.

Labour calculates that the HS2 project alone would deliver 33,000 apprenticeships.

Labour plans to fund the promise by diverting cash presently given to support in-house training. Labour would also allocate £44m a year from its new jobs guarantee fund to pay for the scheme.

Institution of Civil Engineers Director General Nick Baveystock, said: “Practical action which incentivises more employers to offer apprenticeships can only help, and we welcome greater involvement from employers in setting up schemes tailored to the needs of business.

“But the focus must be on the quality not just quantity of apprenticeships.

“Young men and women should also have the opportunity to gain professional qualifications at the end of their apprenticeships, setting them up for careers in their chosen fields.”