Over £2 million to fund Apprenticeships
Over £2 million of funding has been secured by Bolsover District Council and Chesterfield Borough Council, to create job opportunities for young people in the area.
£585,000, from the Government’s Future Jobs Fund, will be used along with around £1.7 million from the Councils’ Working Neighbourhoods Funds (WNF) to employ 105 people in Apprenticeships across the councils and in public and voluntary sector organisations.
The Apprenticeships will be made available to those aged 16-24 years who are at risk of being long-term unemployed and those aged 25+ who live in deprived areas of Bolsover and Chesterfield. The first Apprenticeships were taken on from October 2009 and will last for 18 months.
Cllr. Ray Russell, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: "We’re delighted to have jointly secured this money to help get unemployed people back into employment.
"We hope to have apprentices in various council departments lasting around 18 months with full training given to an NVQ level 2 or equivalent. Those who qualify in their Apprenticeships can hopefully go on to secure long term employment at the councils or use their skills and experience with other local employers.”
Councillor Eion Watts, Leader of Bolsover District Council said, "This is great news for the area and great news for the young and long-term unemployed. The recession has hit us all hard and with fewer opportunities out there we are doing all we can to try and help invest in our future and build a stronger area. This scheme will help people find a job, get into training or work experience and provide those taking part with a brighter future."
The money comes from the Government’s £1 billion Future Jobs Fund, which has been set-up to provide around 100,000 jobs for young people, plus a further 50,000 jobs for the long-term unemployed in deprived areas."
Bob Kendall, Derbyshire District Manager for Jobcentre Plus, said "The Government’s Backing Young Britain Campaign recognises the need for younger people to get experience to improve their prospects in a more competitive jobs market. And the Future Jobs Fund is an important part of this. We look forward to working with Bolsover District Council and Chesterfield Borough Council to bring new Apprenticeship and work opportunities to Derbyshire people of all ages. The Apprenticeships will really boost someone’s job prospects and can be especially beneficial for younger people where a limited work record may be a barrier to getting a first job."