TWO young apprentices have received awards as a local authority celebrates success in supporting jobs.

Hambleton District Council launched its apprentice scheme 15 months ago as part of the Changing Lives Building Better Business project.

Through the initiative the authority allocated money to businesses wanting to employ apprentices, but found themselves unable to afford it.

As a result, five businesses across the district have offered young people permanent jobs, while the council has employed apprentices across the authority – including in leisure, waste, IT, customer services and business.

To celebrate the success, an apprentice awards event was held in which Holly Watkins, of Arty Party in Thirsk, was named as business apprentice of the year, and council leisure apprentice Joe McKechnie was chosen as local authority apprentice of the year.

Both have now secured permanent jobs with their apprentice employers.

Councillor Peter Wilkinson, Council deputy leader, said: “This scheme has gone from strength to strength with more and more businesses wanting to get involved

“It has been a huge success and to be able to honour two outstanding apprentices in their own field is very rewarding. It was very hard to pick the winning two as all the apprentices were of a very high standard.”