Cllr Stapleton said around 100 people would be found work through the CEI scheme but that this could rise to 500 a year.

She said: “Once we know this model works, hopefully it can also be used in other industries, such as maritime or even retail.”

Rob Mason, of Neptune, said: “We will definitely sign up to this, and I’m sure – not to put words in their mouth – so will Peel for the Wirral Waters scheme.

“When times were good in construction in Merseyside a few years back, it was particularly difficult to get suitably trained workers on to sites.

“People said it was due to cost that workers were brought in from abroad, but it was actually availability. We’re looking at this as an investment for the future.”

He said: “The public sector needed to take the lead on this.

“We are happy to ensure the training places are made available, but we don’t have the facilities to find the people to fill those places, or train people.”

A report to the council’s cabinet said: “The current economic downturn is affecting a number of construction projects and their timescales, but the business plan identifies that there is sufficient activity from the public sector to establish the CEI and, if it is established now, then the initiative will be in operation when the economic upturn takes place.”

The first apprentices are due to start later this year.