MORE than 1,200 additional apprenticeships could be created in Greater Manchester to help support smaller businesses and priority sectors such as digital and health and social care.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will be using almost £4million of funding available after three schemes (Youth Contract Expansion, GM Apprenticeship Grant for Employers and GM City Deal) came in under budget to support the creation of apprenticeships in the region. It will also help develop a UCAS-style application system for employment choices.

Cllr Sean Fielding, Oldham Council, GMCA lead for education, said: "We are determined to make sure our young people are equipped for life and also that there are good jobs available for people to progress and develop, and we can’t achieve either of these goals without apprenticeships.

"It is about the right apprenticeships for the right people and this is why these programmes are so important."