East Surrey MP, Sam Gyimah, has launched a campaign in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service to see 100 apprenticeships created by local firms for 16-24 year olds in the area. To help promote the campaign, Mr Gyimah is inviting local business owners to a breakfast event at Oxted Cinema in Station Road, Oxted between 8-10am on Friday 15th March.

Any business can take on an apprentice under the new Government Apprenticeship Scheme, with available job roles ranging from accountancy to textiles, engineering to business administration and construction.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr Gyimah said: "With government funding and support available, there has never been a better time to take on an apprentice."

Businesses involved in the apprenticeship scheme will get a trainee for up to a year with the option of keeping them on full time; a Government subsidy of £1,500 for every apprentice; a subsidy of up to 100% for the cost of training for the apprentice and help from the National Apprenticeship Service to find a suitable apprentice. In return the apprentice gets paid work, on the job training to complement their studies and the possibility of a full time job at the end of the year.

Rebecca Muggeridge, Head of Learning and Development at Lingfield based charity Young Epilepsy, said: "We are looking to recruit over 100 support workers and are very keen to use the Apprenticeship Scheme wherever possible to attract the right people to these roles. When taking on apprentices we hope that they will remain with us as permanent members of our team."

The breakfast event, sponsored by Chalkhills Bakery, will allow businesses to meet experienced apprentices, talk to local firms with a track record of taking part in the scheme, and find out more about what an apprentice could offer their business. Further information, including an explanatory video, can also be found online at www.samgyimah.com. Business owners interested in attending should RSVP to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.