A SCHEME to find young people apprenticeship opportunities has been launched in east Durham.

The programme is being funded initially by County Durham Learning and Skills Council and operated by East Durham Business Service, Connexions County Durham and Easington Action Team for Jobs.

They aim to bring together employers and training providers to increase the number of young people in jobs with training.

The programme offers a free recruitment service to employers taking on east Durham young people.

David Robinson, Business Broker at East Durham Business Service, said: "We need to do a lot more in East Durham to promote apprenticeships to employers.

"We know from surveying local employers that many don't have a good understanding of the apprenticeship framework and don't realise that, in the majority of cases, training and assessment is provided free and often in the workplace and covers almost all occupational areas.

"Our specialist recruitment consultant will work directly with employers, young people and training providers to maximise employment opportunities as well as match suitable young people to vacancies and training providers.''

Recruitment consultant Mary Allen said: "This is a really exciting pilot project that aims to create more opportunities by making it easy for employers to access young people interested in jobs with training as well as linking them with local training provision.'