THE Evening Gazette has joined up with the National Apprenticeship Service to get business to take advantage of the huge opportunities offered by taking on apprentices.

The region has a particularly high number of young people without jobs and the new campaign 100 Days: The Apprenticeship Challenge is hoping to help tackle the problem.

Last year we worked with NAS to promote the 100 in 100 initiative to urge firms to start 100 Apprentices in 100 days.

At the end of the initiative an amazing 1,355 new apprenticeships had been created.

The campaign is backed by companies and training providers from across the region and the Gazette’s sister paper in Newcastle, The Journal, is also throwing its weight behind it.

And in just the first couple of days of the campaign 53 new opportunities have been created.

More than 100,000 employers in the country already offer apprenticeships.

Over the next 100 days we hope to help that number grow.

To find out more about the 100 Days Apprenticeship Challenge, recruiting apprentices or to see if you are eligible for the £1,500 Apprenticeship Grant for Employers call 08000 150 600 or visit apprenticeships.org.uk

Find out more about our apprenticeship campaign at www.nebusiness.co.uk/apprenticeships

Contact us here at the Evening Gazette by emailing: business@eveninggazette.co.uk