AN INITIATIVE aimed at young people and employers nationwide has been welcomed by Malpas' voice in Westminster.

Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach has praised the government's Fire it Up campaign, which is working with employers as they take on more apprentices.

Top firms including Marks & Spencer and Lloyds Banking Group are already taking on thousands of apprentices,according to the campaign.

“The campaign was created to ensure that sure young people can hear about all the exciting options available to them, like doing an apprenticeship or going to a further education college,” Ms Sandbach said.

“There are now literally hundreds of new apprenticeships in a huge variety of occupations; from cyber security to nursing, engineering to creative design."

Ms Sandbach added that she was a "proud supporter of apprenticeships" after seeing they bring to the area.

I am a proud supporter of apprenticeships; having seen the value they bring to apprentices and the employers that hire them in our local area.

"I would encourage young people to think about checking them out and urge more employers locally to seriously consider taking on apprentices,” she said.

For information about apprenticeships, visit https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/