A £300,000 scheme to try and keep some of Gwynedd’s brightest young talents in the county has been rubber-stamped by council­lors.­

A meeting of the Cabinet app­roved the setting up of a new scheme with the aim of employing at least 20 new apprentices during 2019.

According to officers, establishing the scheme would provide an opportunity for at least 20 young people the chance to start a quality career path with the council, offering a chance to develop a quality career through the medium of Welsh.

Proposing the scheme, Cllr Nia Jeffreys said that as one of the county’s largest employers, it was important for the authority to continue developing a quality workforce for the future.

“This is a simple but important scheme that will offer a great opp­ortunity for young people who are looking to start their career or people eager to start in a new field, off­ered mainly through the medium of Welsh,” she said.

“Gwynedd is at the forefront in this innovative scheme and we feel it will make a real difference, not only for the 20 apprentices but their families and communities.”

The council will offer apprenticeships in varied posts across the authority’s work area and is set to start recruitment over the coming months, with the new apprenticeships expected to be in post by the end of September.

The authority has committed to pay a fair salary, equivalent to the National Minimum Wage, to new apprentices.

While the length of apprenticeships can vary, they usually last two or three years.

While the council will receive no contribution toward the costs of employing apprentices, the UK Government’s Apprenticeship levy will help with the developmental costs such as the qualification and training elements of the scheme.

Welcoming the development, council leader Dyfrig Siencyn said: “It’s a positive move that we are giving young people such opportunities.

“There are great career paths here with the council.”

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