HUDDERSFIELD butcher and pie-maker Andrew Jones has taken on a new challenge.

He has become Kirklees’ first Employer Ambassador.

And, in National Apprentices Week, he is calling on other firms to take on people as apprentices and give them the skills for the future.

Mr Jones said: “An apprenticeship as a butcher did me, my family and my workforce very well.

“I know the impact of it first hand and want to encourage other businesses to increase the chances of more people experiencing the same.

“I want others to join me as Employer Ambassadors and help encourage other employers.”

He made his comments as Kirklees Council hosted an event at the Galpharm Stadium.

They revealed that out of 14,000 employers in Kirklees, about 1,100 were known to have taken on apprentices in the last 12 months.

And council leaders hope more will follow suit. They will be joining with many other organisations later this year to launch the “100 in 100” recruitment drive, which will aim to see 100 companies joining the apprenticeship scheme in 100 days.

Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan said: “A vibrant, dynamic and forward-thinking workforce can be achieved with the use of apprentices, and this supports the local economy.

“Kirklees Council itself currently has 150 apprentices who are a valuable asset both now and particularly in the future”.