Wirral makes £1m apprentice investment

More than 140 new jobs will be created for young people in Wirral after the council confirmed plans to invest £1m in its apprenticeship scheme. The cash will be matched by the European Social Fund.

Wirral Council said the scheme would help tackle youth unemployment by providing young people with the skills employers need.

Latest figures show that Wirral has 1,023 young people not in education, employment or training, while the borough has the UK’s second-worst rate of people not working in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

“To be able to compete for a job, young people need to have the skills employers want,” said Andrew Hodson, cabinet member for regeneration and planning strategy. “With this latest commitment to our young people, Wirral Council will have helped employers to create more than 300 apprenticeships.”

The investment in the Wirral Apprentice programme follows news last week that the council has earmarked cuts and savings totalling £48m as it grapples with a reduced budget.