by business editor Trevor Sturgess

tsturgess@thekmgroup.co.uk

Medway Council is offering £2,000 for every apprentice hired by local businesses.

It has set up a £200,000 fund – with half the cash coming from Europe – for up to 90 apprenticeships.

The fund follows an Apprenticeship Challenge launched by the council in May to encourage businesses to take on 100 apprentices in 100 days.

The latest scheme aims to help businesses grow, give young people useful skills, and take some of them off the dole.

The £2,000 will be in the form of a wage or training subsidy for every apprentice taken on between now and March. The grant is restricted to a maximum of two apprentices per employer.

The money will be paid directly to the training provider. The subsidy can be used to help the employer pay the apprentice's wages, or if over 19, go towards training costs.

The government funds the training of 16-18 year olds, and half for 19-24 years old.

The scheme is targeted at businesses with fewer than 50 employees in construction, engineering, horticulture, travel, tourism and creative.

The council's Employ Medway team will work alongside the Connexions Service to identify possible candidates, focusing on unemployed young people.

Council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers (pictured above), said: "As a former apprentice myself, I can only speak too highly of the real value of an apprenticeship.

"They are not only good for people who want get ahead and gain invaluable skills, but they're also good for business and for the growth of our economy in Medway.

"We really are committed to driving up economic growth here in Medway and giving both businesses and the apprentices themselves the tools they need to grow, develop skills and succeed."