Firms have been urged to increase apprenticeships they offer despite new research showing the number had doubled over the past decade.
The Government wants every school-leaver to have the right to an apprenticeship by 2013, but only one in 20 employers currently offered a place, said a report.
The Learning and Skills Council called on firms to recognise the benefits apprentices bring to a business as it announced the winners of its apprenticeship awards.
Skills Secretary John Denham said: "Over the past decade we have more than doubled the number of young people and adults starting apprenticeships, spanning the breadth of our economy from accountancy to engineering, construction to veterinary nursing.
"But we plan to do more. In the next decade all qualified school leavers will have the right to an apprenticeship. It will become a typical choice for young people and adults - at the same time ensuring that businesses get the vital skills they need."
Falmouth-based yacht-builders Pendennis won the large employer of the year award, Wiltshire furniture company Mark Wilkinson won the medium employer category and Arcana Hair and Beauty of Milton Keynes won the small employer section.
