A regional daily’s drive to create more new apprenticeships on its patch is set to expand.

The Express & Star, Wolverhampton, launched its Ladder for the Black Country campaign last September with the aim of creating 500 new apprentices in the area.

Now the scheme is being expanded to Staffordshire, where more than 2,000 young people aged 16 to 24 are currently unemployed.

The campaign is being supported by the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent Council, among others.

In an editorial announcing the campaign’s launch, editor Keith Harrison, pictured above left, wrote: “We at the Express & Star are extremely proud of the fact that the Ladder for the Black Country has already created almost 500 apprenticeships in a matter of months.

“The Ladder was launched to help tackle a real problem of youth unemployment in the region.

“We wanted to be part of a solution to the issue, to actively help our communities.

“Working with our partners we have been able to do that – and continue to do so.

“But that problem isn’t exclusive to the Black Country, there are thousands of young people without work, without careers and with a gloomy future across the country.”

A similar campaign is also being run by the Express & Star’s Midland News Association sister daily, the Shropshire Star.

The drive has been supported by the Duke of York.

Urging firms to get involved in the project, Keith added: “Apprenticeships benefit young people, they benefit firms but they also help the local economy.

“Our communities benefit from getting young people into work contributing to the businesses but also having cash available to spend elsewhere. This really is a win-win situation for everyone.

“We are proud of everything the Ladder has achieved so far – help us to ensure that for even more young people the future is bright.”