A COUNTY initiative to training engineering apprentices is suffering a shortfall of applicants.

The centre at Redditch run by Midland Group Training Services is currently struggling to fill 30 vacancies and chief executive Lee Weatherly explained: "The problem isn’t attracting employers, it’s attracting students."

The project is backed by both Worcestershire and Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnerships, which have match-funded the centre to the tune of £800,000, and Mr Weatherly added: "One of the challenges we’ve got in filling the vacancies is getting the message across to young folk and their mums and dads that we offer fantastic opportunities. Engineering has moved on greatly. It’s far more about manufacturing systems and automation – it’s a science. There’s a lot of engineering excellence in this part of the world and we have got to make sure it stays here.”

Recently MGTS was visited by Labour shadow secretary for communities and local government Jon Trickett, who said: "This is a very exciting place. Redditch has a world beating reputation in engineering and it’s great to come here and see a council that is really caring and supportive of people who need proper jobs, particularly so as the amount of money it receives has fallen by £250 per head of population ever since 2010.”