Young jobseekers urged to get their feet on the Ladder for Shropshire

Leaflets were today being distributed to schools and colleges throughout the county through careers advisors.

They give details of the Shropshire Star's Ladder for Shropshire campaign, with the aim of linking employers, training providers and potential workers.

Organisers say there has already been interest from agricultural businesses in offering apprenticeships and inquiries coming in from the printing, electrical and construction industries.

The Ladder for Shropshire is an apprenticeship scheme.

And whether you are a business looking at taking on an apprentice or a young person looking for work, there are plenty of benefits to being part of getting involved. We want companies – large, medium and small – to take on apprentices and help them onto the job ladder.

An apprenticeship is a paid job that includes on and off-the-job training. For every apprentice taken, employers may be eligible for a Government grant of £1,500.

More than 80 per cent of consumers favour using a company that takes on apprentices and 74 per cent of businesses say apprentices are more loyal and stay with the business longer than other employees.

• For full details visit ladderforshropshire.co.uk For more information call 0330 999 8441 or 0800 999 8441.

• You can also email ladder@apprentice-providers.co.uk or fill out the online contact form here

Farming businesses, hotels, small manufacturers, a large aluminium business and leasing companies have already stepped forward to make use of the ladder.

And now, with 148 vacancies in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, organisers are hoping more people take their first steps into the world of apprenticeships.

The leaflets are trying to attract those in year 11, 12 and 13 and encourage them to get involved with the Ladder programme.

Jamie Pugh, the Ladder's marketing and development officer, said: "As well as trying to help tackle youth unemployment, the ladder is also being used to help increase awareness of the variety of different occupations available to learners via the apprenticeship route.

"For instance at the moment in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin there are vacancies in retail, health and social care, agriculture, IT, engineering, construction, leisure and business admin.

"A lot of young people aren't aware of these vacancies or the potential benefits associated with apprenticeships in general. The Ladder helps highlight these benefits so that learners can make more informed decisions about their future.

"We want to be able to refer more young people to employers and this can only be done if more young people get in contact with us."