More than 100 businesses will be urged to take on young people as apprentices at a special business breakfast organised by Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.
The city council runs a number of initiatives to help employers fund apprenticeships, and has helped create hundreds of positions – but more funding is still available.
Mayor Joe Anderson has convened a breakfast event at the Holiday Inn on Lime Street on Wednesday 26 March, at which he will be joined by a teenager who will talk about how her life has been transformed by an apprenticeship.
18 year-old nursery worker Bethany West was taken on at Florrie Tots in Dingle after they signed up to the Mayoral Youth Contract Apprenticeship Business Grant Initiative. She has now secured a permanent position after studying for a level 3 childcare apprenticeship.
Bethany said: “I struggled a lot in school trying to achieve because I had things that set me back such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.
“I have gained lots of experience in lots of nurseries during my apprenticeship and it has given me a knowledge of and understanding of nurseries.
“I am now confident to move forward and take on more responsibilities. The apprenticeship scheme has provided me with the stepping stones to be successful and achieve.”
The Mayoral Youth Contract Apprenticeship Business Grant Initiative offers a subsidy of up to £3,500 for employers to take on young people who are aged 16 and 17 and not in education, employment and training (NEET).
Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Youth unemployment remains one of my priorities and I am committed to ensuring that businesses are supported with funding to help young people on to the employment ladder and enter the world of work.”
Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet member for employment, enterprise and skills, said: “We have had success in reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training but know that many businesses are not aware of the financial support that is out there.”
