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This report examines the growth in apprenticeships and traineeships between 1997 and 2003, with a particular focus on older workers. The research looks at what a typical apprentice or trainee is (in occupational terms) and the apprenticeships or traineeships in which older people play an important part. It also looks at whether the rapid growth in older apprentices and trainees can be explained by the growth in occupations in which apprenticeships and traineeships are offered or whether the growth is more due to older people increasing their share within particular apprenticeships or traineeships. The research found apprenticeships and traineeships changed dramatically during this period, with the range of occupations widening, part-time apprenticeships and traineeships now common, and apprenticeships and traineeships no longer the preserve of the young male, being now available to persons of all ages and to existing workers as well as new entrants to an industry. While the numbers have grown for all age and sex groups, the largest percentage increase was for males over the age of 45 years, followed by women aged 45 years and over. The group with the slowest growth is young males, but even here the growth was over 50%. The range of occupations in which apprenticeships or traineeships are available has also increased. The study concludes that the main picture to emerge is one of change.