THE Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), together with the National Apprenticeship Service and local colleges and training providers, is embarking on an initiative to increase the number of apprenticeships in Cheshire and Warrington and is calling out for local businesses to be part of it.

The Cheshire and Warrington ‘300 in 100 Apprenticeship Challenge’ will be launched this week with the aim of local companies recruiting 300 new apprentices in 100 days.

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is the driving force behind the campaign and is delighted to have the support of Trinity Mirror Cheshire.

The challenge to local businesses is to generate as many new apprenticeship opportunities as possible, for both new recruits and existing staff, over the next 100 days.

Sue Price, regional director for the National Apprenticeship Service in the north, who will officially launch the Apprenticeship Challenge with local employers and their training providers, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Cheshire and Warrington LEP and Trinity Mirror on this exciting new campaign.

“Support of local businesses is vital if we are going to hit our target. It will provide some much needed new opportunities for local young people and, by agreeing to take on an apprentice, employers are not only supporting their local community but they are also making a good business decision to grow their own talented workforce.”

South Cheshire College will be hosting a breakfast launch event at 7.30am on July 26.

This will be an opportunity for local businesses to learn more about the campaign and hear from employers who have recently taken on apprentices.

The National Apprenticeship Service and local training providers will be on hand to answer questions and provide support with setting up apprenticeships.

This campaign is intended to enhance an existing initiative launched by the Cheshire and Warrington LEP at the beginning of April to help deliver one of its key priorities for 2012: ‘The Apprenticeship Promise’.

The promise is being managed by Marketing Cheshire and commits businesses to sign up to one or more of 10 elements, which include a commitment to recruit new apprentices and other supportive activities.

Businesses interested in the campaign should call James Williams, employer account manager at the National Apprenticeship Service, on 07785 243278 or email cheshireandwarrington@apprenticeships.gov.uk.