2 April 2013
£750k incentive to help 500 young people join the career ladder
Scores of businesses are expected to attend Surrey County Council's Developing Skills for Surrey event on Thursday 18 April at Dorking Halls, aimed at boosting young people's chances of getting on the career ladder.
The Council has organised the workshop as part of its drive to create 500 apprenticeships in the next year, and it is aimed at firms looking to hire apprentices, offer trial placements or give young people the chance to undertake work experience.
Already more than 40 businesses have registered for the event, which gives them the opportunity to get advice from county council staff, talk to representatives from colleges and training firms and hear how apprentices have benefited other firms.
Developing Skills for Surrey comes ahead of the launch of the Supply2Surrey website, which aims to match firms with apprentice hopefuls and list contracts on offer from the county council, the 11 district and boroughs and Surrey Police.
Supply2Surrey, which is being created as part of a push to promote economic growth, is due to go live by May but businesses wanting to sign up for the free event at Dorking Halls can do so by going to www.supply2surrey.net/events/
Laura Langstaff, Surrey County Council's head of procurement and commissioning, said: "Apprenticeships provide young people with skills they need, give businesses the workforce they require and help the economy grow.
"This event is a great opportunity for businesses of all sizes to see the direct benefits of hiring apprentices and more than 40 have already signed up. I'd urge others looking to develop young talent to do the same."
