A bid to boost employment for young people is under way.

And Kirklees Council is leading by example, offering 30 new apprentices.

Opportunities include work and training in business administration, IT, customer service, outdoor work, vehicle maintenance and construction – including apprentice electricians, gas and heating engineers, plumbers, joiners and plasterers.

The deadline for entries is May 2 for apprenticeships starting in September.

Clr Peter McBride, Cabinet member for Place said: “The council is committed to providing apprenticeships and I am delighted that we are able to provide over 30 positions this year, apprenticeships are a fantastic way for young people to start a new career as well as providing the council and Kirklees with a skilled workforce for the future.”

The jobs will be located across the council, in local schools and Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing.

This year’s Kirklees Council Apprentice of the year Krystle Craig-Thomas, who works as a Business Support Apprentice in Culture and Leisure said: “I have been working for the council since June last year. From the beginning, I felt like a valued member of the team. Everyone is friendly and supportive and I am learning new skills all the time.‘

“Being an apprentice means I can earn a wage whilst gaining a qualification and developing the skills I need to progress in the future - I would encourage all young people to consider applying.”

The council has developed new website to make applying for an apprenticeship easier, with applicants able to check if they are eligible and take a series of online tests, covering basic skills, learning styles and personality.

The council will use the new system to select suitable candidates to attend a recruitment workshop, where they will receive further details on the apprenticeships available before completing a shortlisting questionnaire.

Anyone who is interested must be available to attend one of the workshops on May 13 or 15.

For more details visit the website.