http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/news/details.aspx?id=214980

Encouraging teenage apprenticeships

Employers are set to be offered a subsidy to fund the first six months salary for teenage apprentices.

A report to the city council’s Cabinet on Friday 27 April is recommending the creation of a Liverpool Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy for up to 700 16 and 17 year olds in the city classed as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training).

The project is aimed at tackling the issue of businesses being reluctant to offer opportunities to young people who lack relevant qualifications or work experience and are struggling in the highly competitive jobs market.

Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet member for employment, enterprise and skills, said: “We have already helped created well over 600 apprenticeships for the long term unemployed as part of our commitment to tackling worklessness.

“This project is aimed at giving opportunities to those young people who haven’t been able to get the skills and experience to be in with a chance of competing for a job. We have to encourage employers to look beyond this and harness the raw potential that exists among many of our teenagers.

“It is absolutely vital we don’t end up with a lost generation of teenagers who aren’t given the opportunity to achieve their potential.”

Businesses supported by the scheme will have to demonstrate a real commitment to providing a long term apprenticeship with real job opportunities at the end of it.

The apprenticeships will be monitored by the city council and Liverpool Futures (the council’s Community Interest Company apprenticeship partner) to make sure the opportunities are of a consistent quality and suitability.

Funding will come from a combination of sources including the National Apprenticeship Service, the Youth Contract, the European Social Fund and existing service funding.

The national minimum wage for apprentices aged under 19 is £2.60 per hour.

Paul Champion
Strategic Project Manager

Mobile: 07540 704920