AN apprenticeship scheme which gives young people a flying start on the career ladder has won accolades for North Yorkshire County Council.

Since National Apprenticeship Week last year, the county council has been named Regional Macro Employer of the Year, and has been listed in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers nationwide.

With this year’s National Apprenticeship Week about to begin (it runs from March 9 to 13), the county council has reaffirmed its commitment to providing young people with a sound basis for succeeding in the workplace.

“Our scheme has been highly praised, and we are extremely proud of our achievements in helping to equip young people with the skills they need to prosper in their lives … just as we are proud of our apprentices themselves,” said County Councillor Carl Les, executive member for human resources.

“National Apprenticeship Week is a chance to showcase how our scheme has delivered work for young people and adults, enabling them to earn while they learn in real jobs, gaining real qualifications, and securing real futures.”

One of those to benefit from the scheme is Abby Terry, who is an apprentice ICT assistant, based at the county council’s Highfield House office in Ripon.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it,” she said. “A big part of what I’m involved in is helping schools to build and manage their websites. It’s really interesting, and at the same time I’m building up lots of experience and learning new skills. And as well as the work experience, I’ve also met lots of new and interesting people.”

Currently, more than 100,000 employers in England offer Apprenticeships in 200,000 locations, covering more than 170 industries and 1500 different job roles.