Construction pilot to support recession-hit apprentices

The scheme will launch in Merseyside and aims to find alternative places for displaced apprentices.

The skills council hopes that 78 apprentices will be able to complete their training during the pilot, which runs until July 2011. The pilot also aims to find 27 qualified apprentices permanent jobs.

All those that take part will be guaranteed training, paid work for 52 weeks and support with finding jobs when they qualify.

Construction Skills employer services director Mike Bialyj said: "The economic downturn has created huge challenges for the construction industry and when firms are cutting costs, young apprentices are often the first casualties. It is therefore essential that we support businesses in maintaining and taking on apprentices if we are to avoid future skills shortages."

Apprentices are being targeted through Construction Skills' Apprenticeship Matching Service.

This latest pilot has been launched to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (1-5 February).

Other events include an apprentice's forum taking place in Lewisham for those who have taken part in the London Borough of Lewisham's apprenticeship scheme.

Communities Secretary John Denham has urged more councils to invest in apprenticeship schemes.

The government estimates that 3,000 more apprenticeship places could be created if councils met even the average level of performance.

Denham said: "Our snapshot findings shows top councils are creating one apprenticeship for every 65 employees, the average is one per 248 employees. But almost 60 per cent of councils are doing worse than this and just under a quarter are doing nothing to up their numbers at all."