Norwich North M.P Chloe Smith at the launch of the young people's survey at St Andrews House aimed at identifying the opportunities for young people. Photo: Steve Adams

City businesses were today urged to take advantage of government money and hire apprentices.

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Both of the city’s MPs visited training schemes to mark National Apprenticeship Week and help reduce the huge number of young people struggling to find work.

Meeting at City College’s St Andrew’s House, businesses and apprentices gathered with Norwich North MP Chloe Smith for the launch of an apprentice survey.

Government ministers announced on Wednesday an extra £6m of funding to support thousands of apprenticeships.

The funding comes on top of the £25m already pledged by the prime minister last year.

Ms Smith and Dick Palmer, Principal of City College, are launching the survey to get a picture of youngsters’ experiences of apprenticeship programmes and the difficulties they face getting work.

Ms Smith said: “We need to help businesses grow and create jobs – step by step, one by one.

“My single biggest priority for this year as a local MP is to help businesses do that.

“But I want to hear from young people too.

“Tell me what holds you back from work – lack of opportunities? Not sure how to get the right qualification?

“I want to hear from you so that we can all pull together.”

And Norwich South MP Simon Wright was at Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust’s headquarters to hear about the success of their apprenticeship programme.

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic success story, equipping people locally with the skills they need to build their careers,” he said.

Caroline Williams, chief executive of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “We have to continue to look at new ways of getting businesses and young people working together in order to meet the skills shortages.”