by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The Co-op is to offer the UK's first funeral industry apprenticeships as part of a campaign to offer jobs to 2,000 young people over the next three years.

It has launched a £9 million Apprenticeship Academy to address the problem of youth unemployment.

As well as a job, it promises young people transferrable skills, competitive salaries and qualifications. All new recruits under 25 will eventually be part of the Academy.

The apprentices will be based across the UK at various outlets ranging from food, pharmacy and motors to legal and financial services and farming, corporate roles such as IT and the UK's first ever funeral industry apprenticeships.

The apprentices will work towards a nationally recognised qualification and have the opportunity to progress onto the group's management development programme.

Group chief executive Peter Marks joined the Co-op at the age of 17. He said: "With youth unemployment hitting the highest rate in nearly 20 years and almost one million 16 to 25 year olds out of work, it's a really tough time to be a young person in Britain.

"We believe businesses have a real responsibility to help motivate and inspire young people by giving them new opportunities to gain the skills, knowledge and experiences to be pioneers for their generation."

He urged other businesses to follow the Co-op's example.

The Government aims to support 360,000 aprenticeships this year. Skills minister John Hayes (pictured above with KM Group business editor Trevor Sturgess), who recently opened Swale Skills Centre, congratulated the Co-op, saying his aim is to deliver the greatest number of apprenticeships in the country's history.

"Every apprenticeship is a real job, designed and delivered in partnership with employers. That is why the apprenticeships programme is the core of a strengthened system of education, training and employment support to help young people get work and build successful careers."

More details about the Co-op scheme at http://www.co-operative.jobs/