A HORWICH-based apprenticeship provider has joined forces with another firm in a bid to address a skills shortage in the region.

Alliance Learning, one of the leading apprenticeship providers in the North West is now working with NowSkills to help boost the region’s IT and digital sectors.

The partnership is hoping to fill a skills gap, by recruiting and training IT professionals of the future.

The two firms are offering a guarantee that all apprentices will complete their training while employed within the IT department of a local business, ensuring they have real industry experience.

Kelly Perkin, operations and quality improvement executive of Alliance Learning said: “The new partnership between Alliance Learning and NowSkills is incredibly exciting for everyone involved.

"Together we can now offer a highly specialised apprenticeship programme which will deliver the skills that the region needs.”

“On completing their apprenticeship, our young people will be able to apply for roles such as support technician, website administrator, web developer, social media manager and network engineer to name just a few.”