Ashfield District Council leader Coun Chris Baron and Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton.

Mansfield and Ashfield district councils have teamed up to create a £60,000 fund to help local employers recruit new apprentices.
The Ashfield and Mansfield Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) is available from 1st April.
It offers businesses taking on a new apprentice up to £1,500 on top of the current National Apprenticeship Service’s (NAS) £1,500 AGE.
The grant will support employers who would otherwise not be able to recruit an apprentice.
Businesses need to be eligible for the national grant and employ less than 250 staff. The apprenticeship must be a newly-created position and the company must not have recruited an apprentice in the previous year.
Mansfield District Council’s portfolio holder for economic regeneration, Coun Kate Allsop, said: “Helping businesses grow and creating a climate for job creation is a key priority for Mansfield District Council.
“The grants on offer are an excellent incentive for businesses to take on an apprentice, which will help boost productivity and performance and provide more opportunities for young people to enter the world of work.”
Leader of Ashfield District Council, Coun Chris Baron said: “Getting people back to work – particularly youngsters – is very crucial to the local economy. Ashfield District Council recognises that we must give future generations opportunities to be properly trained and qualified for the world of work.
“The grants scheme launched today will lead to accredited qualifications on completion, giving a solid base for the area’s future workforce.”
For more information contact the councils’ Regeneration Shared Services on 463165 or [email protected]