Palace date for Ladder apprentices
Apprentices who have taken their first steps in the world of work thanks to the Ladder campaigns will attend a special event at St James's Palace.
The Duke of York is hosting representatives from the Express & Star and its partners including the Vine Trust and Performance Through People next week as well as many of the companies which have helped make the campaign a success.
But centre stage will be some of the young people helped by the three branches for the Ladder campaign across the Black Country, Staffordshire, and Shropshire.
The Duke is patron of the Ladder for the Black Country and a supporter of the Staffordshire and Shropshire campaigns.
He describes the initiative as a 'local solution to a national problem' of youth unemployment.
He said "I am grateful to all the partners and supporters of this important initiative for their leadership, hard work and tenacity.
"It would not have been possible without your valuable contribution, collaboration or commitment."
Around 150 guests will travel from the region to St James's Palace for the event – helping to celebrate in style passing the 1,000 apprenticeships milestone.
Express & Star deputy editor Diane Davies said: "We, as a newspaper, launched the Ladder because we wanted to tackle the very real problem of youth unemployment in our communities at that time. We have done that as well as matching aspiring young workers to suitable workplaces.
"We are proud that we have been able to help in some way form the workforce of tomorrow in this area. But also to give so many young people their first steps onto the career ladder and a promising future.
"I will be very proud to see so many young faces, all helped through the Ladder, at St James's Palace enjoying what will be the experience of a lifetime."
PTP managing director Rob Colbourne said: "The celebration at St James's Palace could be seen as the end of a fantastic initiative, but this isn't the case. The Ladder is a brand that people trust, and feedback is very positive."
The Duke is a big supporter of apprenticeships – believing it is an important route into work.
He said: "It is horses for courses – not everybody has the inclination or the ability to go to university when they leave school.
"By choosing to do an apprenticeship it never closes the door to university.
"University is something you can do at any stage of life or your career path."
