Aycliffe Today Business #3 | Page 6

6 | Aycliffe Today Business /NEWS Phil Wilson – has praised GAMP’s “innovative” Apprenticeship incentive for Aycliffe firms “It’s also nice to see money from the late Councillor Enid Paylor’s Neighbourhood Budget being put to a scheme like this, with a proviso that the new Apprentices are recruited from the Aycliffe and Middridge area only, which is an exceptional tribute to her and one I know her family will be proud of. ” The aim of the project is to tackle the high levels of youth unemployment in the area by encouraging and supporting businesses to create employment opportunities that would not otherwise have existed. The introduction of the National Apprenticeship Service Initiative, an apprenticeship grant for employees aged between 16 and 24, has given the council the opportunity to compliment available funding to develop a new programme to help small and medium size businesses. MP PRAISES ‘INNOVATIVE’ APPRENTICESHIP BOOST Phil Wilson has praised a “hugely innovative” scheme which will give Newton Aycliffe companies £2,500 each to create new Apprenticeship roles. GAMP as well as a further £10,000 from the Neighbourhood Budget of the late Counc