Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices were employed in companies employing fewer than (a) 20 and (b) 50 people in each of the last five years.

Information is not centrally collected for either the number of apprentices by company size or the number of apprentices who go on to work in the public or private sectors at the end of their apprenticeship.

A survey carried out during 2013/14, found that approximately 16% of apprentices were working in the public sector[1], and 75% were working in the private sector.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387595/bis-14-1207-Apprenticeships-Evaluation-Employers-December-2014.pdf
Public/private sector is based upon self-declaration by the employer.