From a policy perspective, this study suggests that access to apprenticeship in industry for women entrepreneurs can be beneficial as it is the best way to prepare for launching a business in a particular industry.
Mr Hunt said there needed to be more focus on vocational education with support for further education colleges and apprenticeships in industry.
That is why it is sceptical that a "jobs summit" between government and business leaders, due on January 12th, will produce better answers.Gordon Brown has said he wants to create 100,000 jobs by investment in health, education and infrastructure, and to mitigate unemployment by encouraging more apprenticeships, "green" industries and possibly direct loans to needy companies.
A statement from G4S, which runs HMP Oakwood prison, said: "The call centre at HMP Oakwood is one of many partnerships we run with businesses, and enables prisoners to work towards apprenticeships and industry-recognised qualifications.
In the recent Industry Apprenticeship Council annual survey, 89% of respondents reported that friends had either started apprenticeships or wished they'd taken them, while 74% said that having started their apprenticeships, their friends and family thought more highly of the system.
There may be different entry requirements depending on the apprenticeship and the industry.
APPRENTICESHIPS The traditional entry route to aircraft maintenance is via an apprenticeship in the industry, with companies sponsoring your preparation for qualifications such as an NVQ, HNC or specialist engineering licence.
Now in her second year of an apprenticeship at The Industry salon in Parkstone, in Dorset, she is working towards a level 2 qualification at Bournemouth and Poole College and has her sights set on a career in TV.
Further, access to apprenticeship in target industry for women entrepreneurs can be beneficial.
A major part of the solution is the development of educational partnerships and apprenticeship programs between industry and school and community college systems to develop an educated, sophisticated, high tech middle class workforce.
