West Midlands businesses are being urged by leading employment and training specialists to give some of the region's thousands of young unemployed people a break by launching new apprenticeship schemes.

Birmingham-based Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) made the appeal to business leaders at the start of the annual National Apprenticeship Week, which seeks to encourage companies to recognize young talent and provide employment and skills.

PPDG is one of the UK's leading employment specialists, successfully delivering Government-funded Welfare to Work initiatives for more than 13 years. It has helped more than 100,000 job seekers into sustained employment, trained over 130,000 people in vocational skills, and provided more than 175,000 with information, advice and guidance.

Now chief executive Steve King has called on hundreds of West Midlands firms to consider launching apprenticeship schemes that will benefit their business and the wider community by providing a way out of unemployment for talented young people.

He said: "Times are very tough for businesses and unemployed people, particularly the young. That is why we are determined to get the message across that we can help businesses to design and deliver apprenticeship programmes regardless of the size of their company or the number of apprentices they are seeking. We promise that if they talk to us we can make a real difference to how their business recruits."

PPDG itself employs around 700 people, the majority of whom work closely each day with both jobseekers and employers to identify the right people to fill the right jobs and, importantly, provide new recruits with the skills and qualifications they need to be a success.

PPDG last week recruited 60 young apprentices people in a variety of roles nationwide to help them gain valuable skills, knowledge and experience. The apprentices, aged 16 to 18, have started work at centres in Harborne, Newtown, Chelmsley Wood, Cannock, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Smethwick, West Bromwich, Dudley, Coventry, Hereford and further afield.

PPDG's HR manager Juliet Mortiss said the company was committed to developing a talented workforce and welcomed the new apprentices to the business. "This is the perfect opportunity for those young people who often struggle to get a foot on the employment ladder or those who prefer to follow a vocational rather than an academic pathway," she said.

"Engaging with an apprenticeship scheme is a tremendous way for companies to attract and nurture young talent. We have high hopes for those starting out on their career with us."

Employer engagement director Nicki Lewis-Downing has worked alongside HR and operational managers in order to maximize the potential for recruiting local job seekers through apprenticeships. It's something that the company is keen to expand upon by offering the service to other businesses who may want to follow suit.

"We've identified an untapped pool of talented young people who simply need the opportunity to prove their capability in the workplace," said Nicki. "It's a beneficial way of developing your future workforce."

Steve King added: "Building partnerships with employers is a key factor in addressing the skills gap. We know that today's labour market demands a skilled workforce at every level in order to compete and succeed."

Now in its fifth year, National Apprenticeship Week is the time when all eyes are on Apprenticeships. Its aim is to raise the profile amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media. The objectives of National Apprenticeship Week 2012 (February 6 to 10) are; to engage and persuade employers of the advantages of employing and supporting apprentices in their workplace; to highlight the talent and skills of apprentices to employers and the wider public; to highlight the range of apprenticeships available in different sectors and the progression routes available to potential apprentices.

If your business is considering taking on an apprentice, Nicki Lewis-Downing would be keen to hear from you on 07739 677220.

For more information about Pertemps People Development Group, please visit their website here: www.ppdg.co.uk