THE successful grant scheme to support local businesses to take on apprentices is being extended again by Wyre Forest District Council.

The council is making a further £50,000 available for 2015/16 and businesses are able to apply for up to £7,500 to help fund an apprenticeship.

The authority has joined forces with Kidderminster College to help Wyre Forest businesses employ local residents.

The Wyre Forest apprenticeship scheme supports employers taking on apprentices through the National Apprenticeships Programme. This is the fourth year the council and Kidderminster College have operated the apprenticeship scheme which has supported intermediate and increasingly advanced apprenticeships with a range of employers.

The council is keen to support advanced and higher apprenticeships focusing on areas such as team leading, management, business and administration, accountancy, social media, engineering and manufacturing.

Councillor John Campion, cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration at Wyre Forest District Council, said: “The scheme has so far helped 41 local apprentices and the feedback has been very positive.

“We are keen to offer apprenticeships to higher level apprentices in 2015/16 as we have in the past two years as this has been welcomed by employers and apprentices alike.

“It is great to see local businesses benefiting from the enthusiasm and new skills gained by local people. Apprentices are telling us they have built more confidence and learned really valuable skills throughout the scheme.”

Councillor Fran Oborski, Wyre Forest District Council’s member champion for skills, said: ““We are very pleased to be supporting this scheme for the third year.

“It has been really well received by local employers and apprentices alike and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Wyre Forest is developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of a strong local economy.”

Jennie Short, head of department for employer engagement programmes at Kidderminster College, said: ““The extension of the apprenticeship grant scheme for a fourth year highlights the value and importance that is rightly being placed on Apprenticeship programmes across the Wyre Forest. 

“We are delighted to be involved in this partnership again and are really keen to see this year’s grant supporting more young people to progress to higher level Apprenticeships.”

For more information on the scheme, contact Business and Training with Kidderminster College on 01562 826515.