http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/apprenticeships/

Apprenticeships efforts are paying off for young trainees

MORE than 1,200 apprenticeships have been created in the North East so far in a campaign championed by The Journal.

It has been just over nine weeks since we launched 100 Days: The Apprenticeship Challenge which aims to get more businesses and organisations to sign up apprentices.

And the campaign organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) in association with the North East Chamber of Commerce has so far seen 1,250 apprenticeships created.

The campaign aims to help companies in the region to take on more staff and increase their skills base as well as to help to get the jobless back into work.

Alan Wallace, head of employer accounts for the NAS, said he was overwhelmed the huge response to the campaign from such a variety of companies and organisations across the region.

“”Apprenticeships have helped to launch the careers of thousands of young people in the North East and offer real opportunities for progression,” he added.

“By gaining relevant work-related skills and nationally recognised qualifications in their areas of specialism, each apprentice is equipped to progress up the career ladder and to take higher level qualifications.

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“Once apprentices get a foot in the door with an employer, they have an opportunity to shine and show them what they are capable of.

“Today’s employers need high calibre people with the right skills and a forward-thinking attitude, and apprenticeships offer this and more. They provide employers with first-class, committed employees who can grow with the organisation.”

Last year, The Journal and its sister paper, the Evening Gazette, worked with NAS to get 100 firms to take on 100 apprentices in 100 days.

Within a few weeks it was so successful we had to increase the target to 500. When the 100 days were up, we were able to report 1,355 apprenticeships had been created.

To find out more about the 100 Days Apprenticeship Challenge, call 08000 150 600, or visit the website www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Paul Champion
www.paulchampionuk.com
www.apprenticeshipblog.com

📱: 07540 704920

Twitter: @blogapprentice
Skype: paulchampion31