County spearheads drive to take on 200 apprentices in 100 days

County spearheads drive to take on 200 apprentices in 100 days

Surrey County Council is spearheading a drive to fill 200 apprentice places in 100 days.

News of the initiative to boost the job prospects of young people in Surrey comes in the same week as the Government launched measures to slash red tape for businesses wishing to hire apprentices.*

Surrey’s campaign to get businesses and other organisations to hire one or more apprentices and give them valuable skills, work experience and qualifications will launch on 27 September.**

As part of the push, the council will continue taking on apprentices through its successful scheme, which has seen nearly 60 people hired in just over two years, as it seeks to ensure all 16 to 19-year-olds in Surrey are in education, training or employment by 2015. In addition, the council will encourage its contractors to hire apprentices.

Surrey County Council leader Dr Andrew Povey said: “I’m calling for Surrey employers to throw their weight behind this drive and help to guide apprentices into the world of work at the same time as building up the skills they’ll need in the future.

“Although the number of youngsters not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Surrey is very low compared to the national average we are not complacent, especially in the current climate, and our goal is make sure nobody in Surrey is classed as NEET by 2015.”

Surrey has the second lowest number of young people considered NEET in the country with less than four in a hundred being classed as such. The national average is more than six in a hundred.

Businesses or people interested in apprenticeships can find out more by calling Carol Squires on 01483 735540 or emailing carol.squires@surrey-chambers.co.uk.

* Skills minister John Hayes announced a package of measures to make it easier for firms with Government contracts to train apprentices yesterday (6 September). Payments will be simplified, contracts streamlined and a number of audit requirements will be eliminated.

** At a business breakfast at Epsom Racecourse as part of the Surrey Youth Fair. The target age group for the scheme is 16 to 24 but it is open to older people. Recent research shows apprentices earn an average of £170 a week. On average an apprenticeship lasts around 18 months.

Surrey Chambers of Commerce, young people’s charity Surrey SATRO, the Association of Learning Providers and the National Apprenticeship Service are supporting the campaign.