BUSINESSES can benefit just as much as young people by offering apprenticeship opportunities, according to Surrey County Council, as the authority backed the Advertiser's Route to Work.
The county council's support of our campaign came as both Mole Valley Housing Association and Raven Housing gave their backing and pledged to offer more apprenticeships this year.
Speaking to the Advertiser this week, Chris Bussicott, who handles apprenticeships for the county council, said the authority is seeking to create 500 new apprenticeships by April 2014.
It follows a successful campaign by the authority during the last financial year, in which 260 young people were given a much-needed route to the jobs market.
But rather than just being beneficial to young people, there are plenty of incentives for businesses to get involved in our campaign, by not only taking on an eager young worker but also the possibility of financial backing to cover training costs, Mr Bussicott said.
He added: "If you take on a Surrey resident before their 18th birthday, you can get £750 from the county council, then there's the national apprenticeship service which can offer £1,500, and the third is that if you take someone on before their 19th birthday, the full cost of training is met by the Government.
"So, from an employer's point of view, you don't have to pay for the training."
Offering his support to our campaign, which has seen the Advertiser team-up with social business Catch22, Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said he was sure businesses would be ready to get behind it.
"It's fantastic to hear that the Advertiser is playing its part in helping young people get on the career ladder," he said.
"Apprenticeships provide young people with skills they require, give businesses the workforce they need to thrive, and help the economy grow, which is why the council is aiming to create another 500 by next April.
"Employers in Surrey have already risen to the challenge by taking on more than 260 apprentices, as part of a previous council campaign. I'm sure they'll do so again."
Mole Valley Housing Association has pledged to create between six and eight apprenticeships in this financial year, with the first being advertised later this month.
The association's support came after we reported earlier this month that Mole Valley is one of the worst areas in the country to try to join a business as an apprentice, with the number of apprentices taken on in the district standing at 360 in the 2011/12 financial year.
Andrew Furtek, assistant director of community development, said: "When you get statistics coming through which shows Mole Valley has one of the lowest take-ups of apprenticeships in the country, that's news. I think it's absolutely right that the local newspaper has picked it up and done something about it.
"You've highlighted there is an issue now and people are talking about it and you are giving people a chance to do something about it.
"I'm hoping more businesses will show their support for this campaign."
According to Sue Lea, at Raven Housing, the association is working to ensure that large contracts include work placements and apprenticeships, and they will also offer more themselves.
Are you a business looking to take on an apprentice?
Are you a young person trying to get an apprenticeship?
Show your support for our campaign by sending an e-mail to editor@dorkingadvertiser. co.uk
