A NUMBER of Merseyside businesses have pledged to recruit apprentices as a result of the Liverpool Daily Post’s Skills for the Future campaign.

We have joined forces with the National Apprenticeship Service to launch a campaign to encourage Merseyside companies to sign up to the Government’s Apprenticeship programme.

The aim is to create 500 new Apprenticeships in Merseyside – providing new jobs and training for young people, in addition to boosting the local economy and ensuring businesses have the skills needed for future development and growth.

And we can today announce that six employers in the private and public sectors have so far signed up to the campaign, creating more than 20 Apprenticeships.

They include Nobles Construction, Liverpool Direct and Gingerbread House Nursery.

Sue Price, North West regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said she was pleased with the response received for the campaign so far.

She added: “The aim of this initiative is to create 500 new Apprenticeships for young people in the next six months.

“Apprenticeships make a vital contribution to the area’s economy and we want to make it as easy as possible for employers to take on apprentices, offering support and advice for both the employer and learner throughout the process.

“We are pleased to see that many employers in the private and public sectors are taking advantage of this resource and hope many more will continue to respond.”

Peter Linford, director of Nobles Construction, said: “Apprenticeships enable us to expand our workforce with employees who will reflect the characteristics and culture of our business from day one.

“These young people are the site managers and bosses of tomorrow.”

Liverpool Daily Post editor Mark Thomas urged Merseyside businesses interested in recruiting young people to sign up to the initiative.

He said: “This campaign is crucial in shaping Merseyside’s workforce so the region is prepared when the economy does begin to pick up.

“If any companies have been considering recruiting apprentices, now is the time to act.”