THE campaign to create 100 apprenticeships in 100 days in York has received a huge boost.

City of York Council announced yesterday it had risen to the York Apprentices Challenge and was offering 34 places to young people.

The challenge is being run by The Press, the council, the National Apprenticeship Service and other key partners across the city.

The council’s apprentices will be taken on in different teams across the authority before Christmas, and a newly-created fund of £115,000 will be used to support initiative.

Council leader James Alexander said he hoped the apprenticeships would lead to “bigger and better things” for those involved. He said: “Helping people access the training and support they need at a young age is vital both to their long-term career opportunities, but also supporting the economic vitality of the city.

“I hope that the council’s support will encourage other organisations across the city to get involved in the challenge.”

The new council apprentices will be aged 16 to 18 and will work in areas including mental health support, youth work, housing and public protection, business admin, HR, and IT. A number of them will be allocated to young people leaving care or who are Looked After Children.

Details of how young people can apply for places can be found at york.gov.uk or apprenticeships.org.uk

Research shows that every £1 of public money spent on apprenticeships generates up to £40 for the economy and, on average, people who complete an Advanced Level Apprenticeship earn over £100,000 more during their working life than someone without such a level of qualification.