Employers in Tendring are being targeted in an effort to boost the number of apprenticeships across the District and help them to meet their future workforce demands.

The aim is to increase the opportunities available for young people over a wide range of diverse careers and jobs - and also provide the skilled workers that companies will need in years to come.

Tendring District Council's Career Track programme is setting up an initiative as part of Apprenticeship Week which runs from February 6-10.

Employers will be encouraged to visit Clacton Town Hall during that period between 10am and 4.30pm and will get the chance to find out all the information they need to take on an apprentice.

Lynda McWilliams, TDC's Cabinet Member for Central and Customer Services, said she hopes it will prove a positive and successful exercise.

"Apprenticeships are proven to be good for a business and can lead to an increase in both productivity and efficiency," she said.

"It's not all about what you can do for the apprentice, but also about what they can do for you - it is very much a two-way street.

"For the apprentice the aim is to build confidence, knowledge and skills helping them to progress in the workplace."

Career Track, which raises awareness and promotes work-based learning opportunities in an effort to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training, will have staff on hand to discuss the possibilities.

Debianne Messenger, Work-based Learning Manager, said that more than 250 leaflets will be distributed to employers during Apprenticeship Week to create interest in the scheme.

"Around 15 per cent of 16-19 year olds in Tendring are not in education, employment or training and that compares to just over 7 per cent nationally," she said.

"It is important that we address this situation and we need employers to come on board to help us to do that.

"We have access to literally hundreds of young people through the Apprenticeship website who are raring to go and want to take up an apprenticeship - now we just need to engage and persuade the employers to support apprentices in their workplace."

Training for 16-18 year-old apprenticeships is fully funded by the Government and there are more than 200 different types of apprenticeships to fit 1,200 different job roles in various sectors.

For more information contact Career Track on 01255 686313, text 07775642635, or email ctrack@tendringdc.gov.uk

There will be a whole range activities taking place across the country during National Apprenticeship Week, which is its fifth year and details are available at apprenticeships.org.uk

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