BOLTON Council has launched a new apprenticeship scheme as part of National Apprentice Week.

The council has opened recruitment to its apprenticeship scheme, which will see it recruiting 25 apprentices between March and June.

Apprenticeships will be available in accountancy, administration, HR, digital media, social care, vehicle maintenance, sport, civil engineering, catering, horticulture, IT, customer services, and licensing and enforcement.

The council has also been running an apprenticeship awareness roadshow which has visited schools in Bolton throughout National Apprenticeship Week this week.

The roadshow involved a DVD, featuring local apprentices, talks by an apprentice ambassador, and a representative of the training provider network, which provides the training element of apprenticeships, giving information, advice and guidance on apprenticeship options.

This culminated in a full day apprenticeship show today at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “We are committed to investing in our young people and providing them with training and jobs, so we are delighted to be able to bring forward the first phase of the council’s apprenticeship scheme, as well as working with our partners to offer other apprenticeship posts across the borough.

“The roadshow will also offer an opportunity for those still at school to find out about apprenticeships and the variety of careers on offer, so that hopefully they can be the apprentices of the future.”

Apprenticeships are also available in Bolton, working with Agilysis, the council’s IT supplier.

There are nine positions for advanced and higher IT support and digital media apprenticeships, which are now open for applications on the Agilysis Arch website.

Other organisations involved in the apprenticeship drive include Job Centre Plus, Bolton at Home and the Probation Service, as well as schools, Bolton College, the Learning Provider Network and the University of Bolton.

People can apply for the apprenticeships at yourcounciljobs.com or jobs.archapprentices.co.uk.