The North Liverpool Regeneration Company is taking on ten people and training them in joinery, brick laying and construction as part of the Liverpool Apprenticeship Scheme.

A total of 1,180 people have applied for 100 places on the new city council funded scheme across all industries.

Councillor Nick Small, the council’s cabinet member for employment and skills, said:  “We have been absolutely deluged with applications and literally bowled over by the response.

“It shows how vital this scheme is, and how important it is to increase the number of apprenticeships across the city.

“At a time when cuts in funding are being made across the board it is really important that we support our young people in gaining the skills they need to obtain employment.

“We want to have a highly-skilled and motivated workforce ready to take advantage of any improvement in the economy in future years.”

The apprenticeships range from 12 months to three years. The scheme is being funded by £300,000 from the city council and a one-off payment of up to £3,000 per recruit is paid on condition that the apprentices are from Liverpool and aged 16 and over.

The successful applicants will be chosen during Assessment Days in National Apprentice Week from 7 – 11 February 2011, when the city council will also be holding a range of events to encourage firms to take on apprentices.