100th young apprenticeships taken on

A major campaign to help young people into apprenticeships or jobs with training

The Greater Manchester Commitment, a major campaign to help young people into apprenticeships or jobs with training, has reached a milestone this week, as its 100th young person secured employment - Lauren Byron has been taken on by Respite Northwest in Rochdale as a business administration apprentice.

Lauren Byron said: “I wanted to do an apprenticeship as it would allow me to learn new things, get experience, get a qualification whilst getting paid at the same time. I have only just started my apprenticeship and already increased my confidence and I’m meeting people I wouldn’t have met before.

"This apprenticeship will definitely help me on my up the career ladder and I would like to progress on to the Advanced Apprenticeship too.”

James Guy, director of Respite Northwest, said: “We wanted to give a young person the opportunity to train up and learn the business whilst getting a qualification at the same time.

"It's good to bring in new people with fresh ideas, and it’s certainly helping us develop too.

"We’ve been really happy with our apprentice and we have already recommended this scheme to one or other centres who are now recruiting an apprentice through Rochdale Training.”

The flagship offer provides an incentive of £750 to employers who take on a 16-24 year old Greater Manchester resident classed as unemployed or NEET (not in employment, education or training) as an apprentice, or into a job with training.

Employers participating in the scheme receive the £750 grant once their young person has completed eight weeks in employment. The incentive is available by itself or in addition to any other local or national grant – such as the Work Programme or AGE (Apprenticeship Grant for Employers).