YOUNG Cumbrian apprentices will front a local authority's recruitment campaign which has been launched today to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

Cumbria County Council is looking to recruit almost 40 new apprentices across the county.

Apprenticeships will be available in social care roles, the council’s highways team and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service among others.

The social media campaign focuses on the quality of training and support offered, the breadth of opportunity at the council and the difference apprentices make to the county and its residents.

The campaign features five apprentices, or recent apprentices, from across the county.

They include Anna Sewell, who provides business administration support for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in Barrow.

The 18-year-old said she is really enjoying her apprenticeship and the friendly environment. She said there are lots of further job opportunities on completing her apprenticeship.

Anna said: "With an apprenticeship you are earning while you are learning and you also get a qualification at the end of it. With the qualification you can progress even further.

The other young people in the campaign include motor vehicle and repair apprentice Beth Luck, the first female ever to work in the council's Skirsgill depot and ex-professional footballer Jamie Street who is now studying project management.

As well as recruiting to the available posts, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the county council as an employer after research showed that many young people had low awareness of the size of the county council and the range of services it provides.

Councillor Barry Doughty, cabinet member for workforce development, said: “The council is committed to apprenticeships and is making a big effort to develop our offer.

"Many people don’t realise how big an organisation we are and the huge range of what we do – from business administration to road building.

"An apprenticeship with us provides one of the best possible starts to a career; indeed, in the last five years over 93 per cent of our apprentices have secured a permanent job or progressed further higher education.

I’d urge anyone thinking about their future to look at the apprenticeships we have available."

Full details on the council’s apprenticeship scheme, and apprenticeship vacancies, can be found at the council's website.

The deadline for applications is March 31 and people can meet the apprenticeship team face to face at the following events:

March 7 - Kendal College, 2pm to 6pm; March 14 - Furness College; 3.30pm to 6.30pm and March 20 - Gen 2 Open Day at the Furness Skills Centre, Ulverston, 4pm to 6pm.