KNOWSLEY’S Apprentice scheme has proved so successful it’s going to be rolled out across all Merseyside’s boroughs.

Wirral Council has already followed Knowsley’s blueprint and launched it’s own scheme to recruit 100 apprentices and other local authority’s are set to follow suit.

Executive director for regeneration, economy and skills Nick Kavanagh said: “All the Merseyside councils are going to take this on board so there will be a visible cohort of young apprentices across the region.”

Now in it’s second year, more than 680 people have applied to become one of the lucky apprentices who get guaranteed paid work and training for three-years.

And despite the economic downturn 44 businesses, including some who took on one of last year’s apprentices, have already signed up for 2009.

Mr Kavanagh said the 2009 scheme was even more important in the current jobs market and would fuel Knowsley’s regeneration.

He said: “As the leader of the council Cllr Ron Round said the 16-18-year-olds are the ‘forgotten sector’ as they can’t claim benefits and any government scheme is only targeting 18 and older.

“Young people are often not seen as important. In times of recession they are often hit when businesses start to make cut backs.

“In the past few months there has been a 12% drop in job vacancies in the private sector for young people.

“Young people are essential to the economy and prosperity of the borough and of any economy.

“Getting them building up core skills and learning a profession is the face of our future economy. They are our future.”