A campaign to get young people into apprenticeships has been so successful it has busted its targets.

Surrey County Council (SCC) is investing £750,000 this financial year into boosting young people’s career prospects through apprenticeships, traineeships and other opportunities.

The initial scheme, which aimed to create 200 apprenticeships for youngsters in Surrey, was launched as part of a drive to stimulate economic growth that has also seen plans put in place to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). 

The target was reached four months early and now another 65 under-19s have been helped into work.

Garath Symonds, SCC’s assistant director for young people, said: "We were thrilled when our initial target of 200 apprenticeships was reached four months early so we raised the bar.

"That target has now been passed too and I’m sure many more employers will join us this year to get the skilled workforce they require to thrive and provide young people with the leg up they need to find work in these tough times."