Farron: 'Lets make 2012 the year of the apprentice in the South Lakes'

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has laid down a public challenge to businesses and the public sector to make 2012 the year of the apprenticeship in our community.

Tim has been campaigning for many years to bring well paid jobs to our community. In the last year the number of apprenticeships created in the constituency has increased by 96%.

Businesses across the South Lakes such as Gilkes in Kendal and Croppers in Burneside, created 370 new apprenticeships in 2009-2010. However provisional figures for 2010-2011 show that that number has almost doubled as 720 new apprenticeships were created in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Tim recently joined with local councillors Geoff Cook and Clare Feeney-Johnson to create a £50,000 fund for apprenticeships but has also set aside a further £30,000 to allow small businesses in theSouthLakesto take on apprentices. Small and medium sized businesses will be given up to £5,000 to support them in training an apprentice.

Tim said: "I am challenging businesses and the public sector to join with me and make the 2012 the year of the apprenticeship. Even though we have the lowest unemployment in England we still must do more to support young people and help create well paid jobs in our community. Recently we helped to secure major investment for Gilkes to help create 500 jobs and safeguard another 250 but we can and must do even more and that is why I welcome the recently created fund and I hope that small businesses all across our area will bid for funds or agree to take on an apprentice."