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Newspaper aims to create 100 apprentices in 100 days

A campaign to create 100 apprenticeships in 100 days has been launched by a Scottish daily.

The Press and Journal, Aberdeen, began its new Apprentice 100 campaign on Friday with the aim of getting businesses on its patch to take up the idea.

The newspaper wants to encourage companies of all trades to offer apprenticeships and traineeships across the North and North-East of Scotland, making a commitment to take on at least one extra person in 2016.

Those which pledge support will be place on a roll of honour, which will be published in the newspaper during the campaign.

Aberdeen apprentices

The newspaper launched the campaign on its front page on Friday, pictured above.

It is already being backed by the Scottish Government’s Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training, Roseanna Cunningham, alongside prominent figures like Sir Ian Wood, the former Chairman of energy giant Wood Group, and hotelier Stewart Spence.

Editor in chief Damian Bates said: “We are delighted to launch Apprentice 100 to highlight an issue vital to the future of Scotland and its young people.

“We hope many organisations rally around in support to help us reach this amazing target.

“We’ll be featuring some real-life experiences alongside pledges from our local businesses and councils, offering their support to the cause and generating new opportunities for young people.”

6 comments

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  • September 7, 2015 at 9:50 am
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    The Basildon Yellow Advertiser did this successfully in 2013 and 2014.

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  • September 7, 2015 at 10:56 am
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    How many apprenticeships will the P&J be offering? I think we should be told.

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  • September 7, 2015 at 1:44 pm
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    Digger,
    The P&J will be creating a special apprenticeship, named after and in memory of our much-loved and missed former farming editor Joe Watson, to do our bit for the campaign.
    This is above and beyond the normal complement of trainees we have; and we currently have vacancies for reporters and newsdesk people. So, Digger, if you’re up for any of them and capable, drop me a line!

    Damian

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  • September 7, 2015 at 5:01 pm
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    Great cover and exactly what local papers should be doing. The Express and Star launched something similar last year and I think they’re up to about 600 apprenticeships in their area now which is a brilliant effort too. More of this please, editors of the UK…

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  • September 7, 2015 at 8:20 pm
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    Thanks for the offer , Damian, but at 66, you wouldn’t even consider me ….and I wouldn’t consider you either. I’m still capable but I prefer to spend my time buzzing around the world – and Aberdeen’s too cold for an old man like me.

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