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The number of applicants to undergraduate social work training courses rose by 8 per cent last year from 4,703 in 2001, the first increase since the mid-1990s.

Health minister Jacqui Smith attributed much of the increase to the popularity of the new three-year degree course, which is due to have its first intake of students in September of this year.

She said the government's social work careers helpline and website had received more than 40,000 calls and page impressions in the past 12 months.


She also announced the launch of the next phase of the government's social work recruitment campaign.

From next week, a series of adverts and posters will be displayed in railway and London Underground stations promoting social work careers.

The campaign is to be repeated for at least the next three years, she said.