£750 cash carrot to take on apprentices
9:14am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Your Town
EMPLOYERS in Bolton will be offered an extra £750 for every apprentice they take on.
The money is on top of the £1,500 per head being offered by the Government to employers who choose to recruit 16 to 24-year-old apprentices.
The Greater Manchester top-ups are available through the Greater Manchester Commitment, which aims to tackle youth unemployment.
The scheme has been set up by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, of which Bolton Council is a member.
Youth unemployment in Bolton topped 3,000 for the first time just before Christmas last year.
Mike Emmerich, chief executive of New Economy, which is running the Greater Manchester scheme, said: “Greater Manchester has experienced a rise in its jobseekers claimants by 13.8 per cent in the past year — almost a third of those were aged 16 to 24. We’re committed to tackling this increase and getting young people back into work.”
The move comes as Bolton North East MP David Crausby today urged businesses to take on more apprentices. He will tell fellow MPs and businesses of the importance of apprentices, at a Parliament reception.
The reception will bring together MPs, leading training providers, and apprentices, to discuss the value of apprenticeships, and their role in the country’s economic future.
United Utilities also announced yesterday that it would take on 40 new apprentices.
The company, which provides water and wastewater services for more than seven million people in the North West, is seeking to fill a range of roles across the region.
■ Businesses across Greater Manchester can register for the top-up scheme by emailing apprenticeships@ neweconomman chester.com
