Mansfield District Council has given an additional £90k to a grant pot set up to help local employers in Mansfield and Ashfield take on new apprentices.

The extra money has been made available thanks to MDC’s Economic Stimulus Fund – a package of measures designed to boost local business growth and jobs.

To mark National Apprentice Week (9th to 13th March), Mansfield and Ashfield councils are offering grants of up to £1,500 per placement to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the Mansfield and Ashfield areas.

Apprentices should be aged from 19 to 24, although in some circumstances young people aged 16 to 19 may be eligible. A business can apply for up to five placements, but each apprentice must be taking up a new role within the business and must live in the Mansfield and Ashfield district.

Cllr Kate Allsop, portfolio holder for economic regeneration at Mansfield District Council, said: “This extra funding gives local businesses an excellent incentive to take on a new apprentice and help boost their productivity and performance. We want to help businesses to grow and at the same time give young people the opportunity to be properly trained and qualified.

“The Ashfield and Mansfield regeneration team is on hand to help businesses find and fund placements for apprentices, so please get in touch. Applying for a grant is very straightforward.”

To find out more, call the Regeneration team on 01623 463 165.