Co-op "overwhelmed" by apprenticeship response
07 February 2012 09:47
The Co-operative Group has said that it received a staggering 64,000 enquiries for 800 apprenticeship posts which were announced last summer.
The scheme to offer the apprenticeship places was launched last summer, with numbers being doubled from 400 to 800, attracting 80 enquiries for every position.
The Co-op said it had been "overwhelmed" by the hard work and commitment new apprentices had shown.
Chief executive Peter Marks said: "As we are getting 80 enquiries for every position we have to offer it is clear there is a need for other businesses to step up to the plate.
"We believe businesses have a real responsibility to open doors for young people by giving them opportunities to gain new skills, knowledge and experience so that together we can build a strong and successful future for young people and our country.
"Through our Apprenticeship Academy, we are offering young people across the UK proper jobs with qualifications and real career opportunities. With a quarter of our employees under the age of 25, eventually we want to make them all apprentices and I would encourage other big businesses to follow suit."
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