Kent County Council is to put pressure on firms to take on apprentices.

The authority is place apprenticeships at the heart of a drive to improve education, employment and skills.

The 16 to 19-year-old age group is particularly vulnerable to the economic downturn and rising unemployment.

Council leader Paul Carter will today outline his campaign to boost the skills of young people and try to convince firms that they should prepare for the future by taking on apprentices now.

Dubbed the Kent Success Programme, the apprenticeship scheme offers the chance for young people to work towards appropriate qualifications, including an NVQ Level 2.

Cllr Carter will call on firms across the county to hire 750 apprentices by 2010. KCC already employs 250 and he wants businesses that do not take on apprentices at the moment to follow its example.

KCC has promoted apprenticeships since 2006 as part of its Towards 2010 strategy.

Cllr Carter said: "We endeavour to see all our 16 to 19-year-olds either in full-time education or employment and all our 19-24 year olds either in appropriate higher education or full-time employment, contributing to society and not becoming a burden on the welfare state."

He will attempt to convince companies "to create fantastic opportunities for young people to start a professional apprenticeship programme with a supportive employer which can lead to access to full-time employment and independent living".

Many firms continue to take on apprentices despite the downturn but others are facing pressures in recession that forceg them to shed staff, or at least not take on apprentices.

Cllr Carter is expected to say this is a false economy and it is in their interest to take on these young people as a smart way of preparing for the upturn, whenever that comes.