News

A rival Midland newspaper has adopted a scheme created by the MNA.

The Birmingham Mail and its sister website Birmingham Live have officially announced the launch the Ladder for Greater Birmingham, which is aimed at getting firms to pledge to create new apprenticeships.

The regional daily has started a bid to create 1,000 new apprentices on its patch after adopting the scheme from a rival publisher.

This follows the huge success of the Ladder for the Black Country campaign launched in the Express & Star almost three years ago.

The campaign was launched as Wolverhampton recorded the highest youth unemployment in the country and followed a challenge by the Duke of York to ‘find a local solution to a national problem’.

Responding to the challenge, the Express & Star teamed up with training provider Performance Through People (PTP), charity the Vine Trust, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and with support by Walsall Council to launch the Ladder for the Black Country.

Prince Andrew came to the Express & Star offices in Wolverhampton to launch the campaign and agreed to be its patron.

So successful was the campaign that it was expanded into Staffordshire and also saw the launch of the Ladder for Shropshire.

Last year the Duke hosted a special event at St James’s Palace to mark the success of the Ladder in smashing through the 1,000 apprenticeships barrier.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who is backing the campaign, added: “Apprenticeships are a great way to give young people and adults the skills they need to develop successful careers.

“We are working closely with employers across the West Midlands to encourage more businesses to invest in skills to help secure their future competitiveness.”