The ambitious target comes as a direct result of the Government’s announcement to end National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25.

The tax change will save businesses over £1,000 a year when they employ an apprentice earning £16,000.

Ray Wilson, director and general manager Carillion Training Services, said: “We are enormously proud of our track record in providing employment and training for young people and we have set ourselves a target of employing in excess of 5,000 new apprentices across our network of training centres.

“We welcome the support for apprenticeships announced in the Autumn Statement which will help to give young people genuine life chances and enable them to realise their full potential.

The Carillion apprentices will be based out of the firm’s network of training centres across the country.

There are an estimated 500,000 apprentices under the age of 25 in the UK.

In, 58,520 people took part in an apprenticeship in the north-east.

Nationally, 28,640 under 25s took up construction, planning and built environment apprenticeships in 2013/14 while 141,940 took up in engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships.

Further support for employers includes the apprentice grant for employers, which provides up to £1,500 per apprentice for smaller businesses that have not employed an apprentice in the last year.