The number of apprenticeships being taken up by young people in Redbridge has fallen 11 per cent in the past year, according to analysis by a Labour politician.

In the 2013/14 academic year, 160 fewer apprenticeships were started than in the previous 12 months, said Greater London Authority assembly member Tom Copley.

The fall mirrors the picture across the capital, which has experienced a 14pc drop.

Mr Copley, who represents the whole of London, said the figures cast doubt on the likelihood of London Mayor Boris Johnson fulfilling his election pledge to deliver a quarter of a million apprenticeships by 2016.

“It is deeply worrying that the number of apprenticeships started in Redbridge is falling, making it clearer than ever that Boris Johnson’s target is not going to be met,” Mr Copley said.

“Good quality apprenticeships are vital to getting our young people the skills, training and expertise they need to succeed in the jobs market; particularly in a city as competitive as London.

“Last year’s fall in apprenticeships was a clear signal that the Mayor needed to do more to encourage companies to take on apprentices and work closely with local councils, yet little appears to have been done.”

But the chairman of the Redbridge Chamber of Commerce said the fall wasn’t “that huge” and suggested apprenticeships weren’t necessarily a “geographical thing”.

Geoff Hill said: “People go wherever there are apprenticeships to be had.

“Do these figures represent the number of people in Redbridge taking up apprenticeships or is it the number of apprenticeships in Redbridge?”

The neighbouring boroughs of Havering and Barking and Dagenham experienced similar slumps, with respective falls of 9pc and 12.4pc.

More than 6,500 fewer young people began apprenticeships across London in 2013/14.

London deputy mayor for business and enterprise Kit Malthouse said the number of apprenticeship starts in Redbridge had more than doubled since 2008, when Mr Johnson began his first term. “We now see over 1,400 apprenticeship starts in the area, while before 2008 annual starts did not exceed 470,” he said.