THE Nottingham Post and Notts Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to find 100 apprenticeships within 100 days.

The opportunities will be open to everyone, of any age.

The Post, the Chamber, and the National Apprenticeship Service, are appealing to Notts businesses to take on an apprentice, and ambitious residents to take advantage of these opportunities.

The campaign, 100-in-100, will launch on January 11, in an event staged at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

Businesses will be invited to attend and asked to pledge to take on apprentices, while the Chamber and National Apprenticeship Service will explain how the scheme works.

The Post will publicise every opportunity and every participating company, and we will feature apprentices as they join up and begin their training.

The Post, the Chamber and NAS, expect companies to come forward to take advantage of the support on offer to employers who take on apprentices in order to deliver the skilled staff that they require.

With unemployment up in Nottingham and Notts, the interest in the opportunities is expected to be very good.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Post and NAS.

"A highly-skilled workforce is absolutely crucial to the success of any business.

"Employers are always looking for skilled people and taking on an apprentice is just one way that can help solve their recruitment needs.

Having good calibre employees is the key to giving the business sector a sustainable future, so it is important for businesses to take advantage of initiatives to help develop leaders."

The NAS will provide an online system enabling individuals to search and apply for live vacancies and allows employers, and their training providers to advertise their vacancies to a wide range of applicants.

Malcolm Pheby, editor of the Nottingham Post, said: "We know there is a real appetite among Notts people to learn new skills and local businesses desperately want a skilled workforce.

"This campaign brings together willing workers and good companies.

"Together they can push this city and county forward, and ahead of our competitors.

"We want to hear from both companies and would-be apprentices."

Apprentices and companies do not have to wait for the launch, register your interest now, by contacting Jon Smart, the Chamber's press and media manager on 01246 207207 or email jonathan.smart@dncc.co.uk.