Local Businesses Offered Grants to Help Train Workforce of Tomorrow
Businesses across the Black Country are being urged to help train the workforce of the future with the help of a new cash scheme.
City of Wolverhampton College made the call after the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) announced it was offering employers a grant of £2,500 to take on new apprentices.
The initiative has been developed to help young people affected by the current economic climate get into work, after figures revealed that 16 and 17-year olds not in full time education had seen the largest fall in employment rate as a result of the recession.
Georgina Parker said: “Young people have been among the hardest hit age group during the recession, and it is vital that we support them and ensure that we are training a new generation for economic recovery.
“This new initiative is a huge boost for local companies and we hope that as many businesses as possible take advantage of this opportunity to recruit additional staff to help them as we emerge from the recession.
“City of Wolverhampton College runs the largest apprenticeship programme in the Black Country, covering areas such as the creative industries, customer service, engineering, hairdressing, sport and polymer processing. We can help companies take advantage of the new grant, but this offer is only available for 10 weeks, so employers need to act quickly!”
The National Apprenticeship Service is providing the Apprenticeship Grants for the first 5,000 employers to take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old apprentice. The £2,500 grant is in addition to the costs of training which is met by the National Apprenticeship Service.
This initiative is a short-term measure, available until the end of March 2010.
For more information ring City of Wolverhampton College on 01902 836000.