Vehicle leasing and fleet management company Activa Contracts is launching a new apprenticeship programme targeted at school leavers.

The launch of the programme follows the Government’s introduction of the apprenticeship levy, which is an initiative to get three million apprentices in training by 2020.

Additionally, GTG (Glasgow Training Group), which has training centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Wolverhampton and like Activa Contracts is a member of the Arnold Clark group of companies, is on the register of apprenticeship training providers approved to provide apprenticeships to levy-paying employers.

The apprenticeship levy is paid by all employers with a minimum pay bill above £3 million a year. The Levy is charged at 0.5% of organisations’ annual pay bill.

Milton Keynes-based Activa Contracts will offer apprenticeships in business services covering courses focused on business administration and customer service.

The courses will lead to apprentices gaining National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), competency-based qualifications that reflect the skills and knowledge needed to undertake a specific job.

Training will be undertaken on the job and by attending courses at GTG West Midlands in Wolverhampton, which is equipped with technical classrooms, IT rooms and a purpose-built driver training centre. Apprenticeships will take 12-18 months to complete.

Karen McCarthy, customer services director at Activa Contracts, said: “The jobs market in Milton Keynes is hugely competitive and the city has a very low unemployment rate.

"We believe that offering a comprehensive apprenticeship and significant career prospects to school leavers will be hugely attractive to 16-year-olds.”

Ian Hill, managing director at Activa Contracts added: “Apprentices can bring in fresh ideas and energise other employees. Apprenticeships can also result in a more skilled and loyal workforce.

“We want to encourage young people to join Activa Contracts. Milton Keynes is virtually at full employment so recruitment can be difficult and time-consuming.

"As an expanding business we have the ability to recruit school leavers and give them a solid start to their business career with apprenticeship training through GTG."

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