IF you fancy yourself more as a budding Gary Mills rather than the next Lord Sugar then York City’s search for a talented group of apprentices could see you “hired”.

The club’s community department are offering the chance for youngsters aged between 16 and 18 to take their first steps into coaching.

Apprenticeships are being offered as 16-week contracts starting early next month with successful candidates receiving an Employment Awareness certificate, a Community Sports Leaders award, an NVQ Level 2 in Leadership Activities and an FA Level 1 Coaching certificate, which includes the Safeguarding Children and First Aid qualifications.

The scholars will all get paid £75 for a 30-hour week that will include a minimum of one educational day with the remainder of time spent working alongside the York City in the Community team to develop coaching skills.

Applicants cannot attend college or any other form of further or higher education establishment, nor can they be employed in any other sector or belong to any other employment, learning or enterprise programme or scheme funded by the government.

Anybody that has completed an apprenticeship before is also ineligible.

Speaking about the new initiative, York City in the Community manager Paula Stainton said: “This is the first time we have been able to offer such an amazing scheme.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is looking to launch a career for him or herself in coaching in the leisure sector.

“At the end of the apprenticeship, the learners will have not only achieved several nationally-recognised qualifications but they will have developed knowledge and experience of working within a football environment.”

The community team are holding a presentation and enrolment evening for anyone who is interested in an apprenticeship on Monday at 7pm in the Keith Walwyn Suite at City’s Bootham Crescent ground.

Applications will then be taken for interviews, which would be scheduled for the following two days and it is anticipated that apprenticeships will be offered on July 1 with the intention to begin the course the following week.

Apprentice places are limited and to book a space for the presentation night email community@ycfc.net or phone Stainton on 01904 624447, extension 7.