UK to fund extra apprenticeships in downturn

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will announce plans to spend 140 million pounds ($205 million) to create an extra 35,000 apprenticeships later on Wednesday, his office said in a statement.

Brown pledged on Sunday to ease the pain of recession by creating around 100,000 jobs through a public works scheme, and the plans for extra apprenticeships in 2009 and 2010 will widen the rift with Britain's opposition Conservative party, which favours tax cuts and lower spending to tackle the downturn.

Among employers offering the apprenticeships for school-leavers will be jet engine maker Rolls Royce <RR.L>, supermarket chains J Sainsbury <SBRY.L> and Tesco <TSCO.L> and other high-street retailers Superdrug and Phones 4U.

The extra posts will take the total number of government-subsidised apprenticeships to over 250,000.