Company bosses are being warned they could face a shortage of young people to recruit for training in Craven this summer.

More young people are staying on at school and with unemployment at its lowest level for years - just two per cent in the Skipton area - North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council says employers could face fierce competition for the best candidates.

The organisation is holding a series of employment fairs to show companies how to attract youngsters through the NVQ system and modern apprenticeships.

Paul Grierson, of North Yorkshire TEC, said: "NVQ options make sense for employers. They can register their vacancies for free now and we will start the recruitment process for them at the fair. They can also come to the event and meet training organisations and young people."

He said the event was not just focusing on school leavers but on training opportunities for existing staff under 24.

Mandy Whitehead, client services manager for the Guidance Enterprise Group - the privatised careers service in North Yorkshire - said the fairs would give employers a chance to look at the best training schemes.

"Young people with good GCSE results are an attractive proposition for employers as people to take on for modern apprenticeships," she said. "There will be professional careers advisers available to give advice to young people and their parents about career progression and what subjects to learn which might be useful."

The employment fair in Skipton will be held at the Black Horse Hotel on Wednesday April 7 from noon to 6pm. There are other fairs throughout the county during the spring at Harrogate, Northallerton, York and Scarborough. Anyone wanting further information should telephone (01904) 692777.

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