THE Mayor of Bolton says his campaign to get 50 young people into apprenticeships during his 50 weeks in office is off to a flying start.

Cllr Martin Donaghy met with teenager Lewis Proudfoot, who has recently been taken on as an apprentice by a Bolton firm, the ninth apprentice to find work since the campaign was launched with The Bolton News in July.

The Mayor held a reception in his parlour and invited former Sharples School student Lewis, aged 17, to join him, as well as a director of SGH Moulds, Lynn Farrell, where he has began working.

Also at the reception were staff from Alliance Learning in Horwich, who helped to bring Lewis and the firm together.

SGH Moulds is based in the Tonge Bridge Industrial Estate and has been providing injection moulding and tooling for 34 years, with JCB as one of its major customers.

Lewis, who lives off Bury Road, close to the business, said he was “really enjoying” the apprenticeship so far.

He said: “I originally worked at SGH Moulds for a summer scheme and had a great time. I was pleased to come back and start an apprenticeship. I enjoy hands-on work and I am learning all the time.

“I have made lots of friends too — everyone at the company is really nice.”

Director Lynn Farell said: “It is all credit to Lewis that we decided to take on an apprentice. It was his enthusiasm during his summer with us that made us decide to do that. So we effectively decided to bring on an apprentice with him in mind.”

Cllr Donaghy, who completed an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering as a young man, said: “This campaign is all about giving young people a chance, and we have to keep the momentum up.

“I don’t believe there are any inherently bad young people, there are just people who need a bit of direction.

“I was an apprentice and I just needed that lift. What is great now is that firms can take on apprentices at any age in almost any discipline.

“Seeing a young lad from my ward of Tonge with The Haulgh working at a firm which is also in my ward makes me extremely proud and I offer my heartfelt thanks to SGH moulds for what they have done.”