Figures showing high levels of apprenticeships being created in Basildon have been welcomed by a parliamentary candidate.
About 500 new apprentices started work in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency between last August and January.
In total, 3,840 apprenticeships have been created in the constituency since 2010.
Conservative candidate Stephen Metcalfe said his party would deliver three million more apprenticeships nationwide by 2020.
He added: “Not only are we creating jobs at a record level, but we are also improving the opportunities of our young people with all of these news apprenticeships”.
Mr Metcalfe recently met apprentices at Selex, in Christopher Martin Road, Basildon.