Hundreds of jobs for young people are to be created in Shropshire, the Government has announced. The 200 jobs will be found in a variety of sectors including environmental, social care and support for the elderly, social housing and benefits advice.

They are being created under the Future Jobs Fund initiative and are the result of a successful bid to the fund by County Training, part of Shropshire Council.

County Training is the largest training provider in Shropshire and operates from seven bases.

It organises work-based training for school leavers, and for adults who are either returning to work or retraining for the job market.

Alison McKeever, senior employment officer at County Training, said: “This funding will have a really positive impact on the Shropshire economy.

“Since the scheme started in October we have helped 39 young people into sustainable employment, and we expect this to rise to 60 by the end of March.

“This new funding offers a great opportunity for young unemployed people in Shropshire, and we are delighted to be part of the initiative.”

It was also announced today that under the seventh round of bidding to the fund, 50 more jobs would be created in the Handsworth area of Birmingham.

West Midlands regional minister Ian Austin said: “I am delighted that the Birmingham and Shropshire Future Jobs Fund bids have been successful, creating 250 jobs in total.”

He added: “This takes the region’s total to over 10,000 jobs and shows the Government’s extra investment helping people across the region to get back to work.

“We’re showing people we’re on their side by increasing training and providing extra help for young people to find work.

“We are determined not to lose a generation of young people to unemployment as a result of the current economic situation.”

About £1 billion has been allocated to the fund and the hope is to provide support for 150,000 new jobs nationally.

Under the bidding criteria, the jobs have to be “real”, pay at least the national minimum wage, and be for at least 25 hours a week.