Eden firms offered incentive to take on apprentices (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Eden firms offered incentive to take on apprentices

1:55pm Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Business By Helen Perkins, Reporter

EDEN businesses have been offered a new incentive to take on apprentices – and it seems to be working.

New recruits have been signed up for work less than a week after Eden District Council made £30,000 of support funding available.

The money is to subsidise the wages of at least 15 apprentices through a new scheme being delivered in partnership with Cumbria County Council. Each young recruit, aged between 16 and 24, can attract a wage grant of up to £2,000.

Bolton Lodge Farm, Ap-pleby, has signed up to the scheme and taken on a school leaver to help with its 250-strong dairy herd.

Farm owners Dave and Nicky Baxter have agreed to employ a 16-year-old to assist their two full-time staff and learn agricultural skills. He will work at the farm and study at Newton Rigg Col-lege, Penrith.

Mrs Baxter said: “This is the first time we have taken on an apprentice. He is going to be an all round farmhand and will learn to feed calves, drive the tractors and start milking.”

Eden business ambassador Coun Debra Wicks said: “We have many businesses in Eden who are keen to develop the potential of local young people.

“Taking on an apprentice can be a huge step, especially for a small business, so the subsidy can be the incentive required to encourage firms to create training oppor-tunities so young people can realise their potential.”

Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for organ-isational development Coun Liz Mallinson said: “Apprenticeships are a great way to improve the prospects for young people and give them a helping hand on to the first rung of the career ladder.

“I’m sure both young people and businesses will benefit from this scheme.”

To find out more about the Scheme, call Caroline Powney on 01228 226752.