Telling 3,000 'you're hired'

Jun 9 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

FOLLOWING the success of his hit BBC TV show, Sir Alan Sugar arrives in the North East today but this time he is looking for thousands of apprentices.

Sir Alan has thrown his weight behind an £11m Government drive to help employers trained up to 3,000 new skilled workers for the future. The founder of Amstrad will be speaking at the Learning and Skills Council organised event at the Fed Brewery at Gateshead.

He was due to be speaking with and Children’s Secretary Ed Balls and Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham but the turmoil in the Labour hierarchy left the Department for Schools, Childrens and Families yesterday unable to confirm the identity of the Government attendees. In April the Government launched the National Apprenticeship Service to fund apprenticeship places. Its main aim is to make it easier for employers to take on apprentices, and support to both the employer and learner.