A CAMPAIGN to encourage businesses in Warrington to take on apprentices has been launched.

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is calling on businesses to help achieve the target of having one in five young people engaged in apprenticeships by 2020.

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, the Warrington Guardian spoke to the woman in charge of increasing the number of apprentices in the town to explain the benefits of the scheme.

Sue Price, regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “This campaign launch falls within National Apprenticeship Week 2010, a week of celebration that exists to bring together everyone involved with the apprenticeship journey, including apprentices, employers and training providers.

“The week involved many exciting and unique events, including apprenticeship challenges, which saw a number of MPs going ‘back to the floor’ to experience and learn about the vital role apprentices play in today’s businesses.

“Our latest research shows that consumers favour using a company that employs apprentices, which not only illustrates the value of apprenticeships, but also highlights potential opportunities for businesses to open themselves up to new customers. In the current economic climate, businesses want to stand out from the crowd and offering Apprenticeships is one way of doing this.

“Apprentices help to shape the region’s workforce and benefits businesses in many ways and I am passionate about the programme and the difference that it can make to an employer that wants to develop their future workforce, and I am looking forward to making apprenticeships a natural choice for both employers and learners.”

To find out more visit apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000 150 600.