A NEW team of apprentices, from plumbers to legal executives, is to become young ambassadors for the learn-as-you-earn route into work.

The 20-strong group will visit schools and careers fairs to share its experience of apprenticeships and encourage more young people to consider them.

The scheme has been set up by the Bradford Apprenticeship Hub, to mark National Apprenticeship Week, which starts on Monday.

Apprenticeship hub officer Richard Isaac said the district currently had more apprenticeship vacancies than young people to fill them.

He added: "We want to use this ambassador network to communicate with other young people.

"When we go to careers fairs at schools to speak to young people, rather than hearing from me - a grey, middle-aged man - we can take an ambassador with us. They can talk about what it's like to be an apprentice and what the rewards are."

Mr Isaac said they had been bowled over with the number of apprentices who had wanted to become ambassadors.

He said: "We wanted to recruit ten, but we got 20. We had so many people wanting to put themselves forward to share their experiences. It has been surprising and really positive."

He said the ambassadors saw it as a way of developing their skills while also giving something back to their city.

One of the ambassadors is third year apprentice plumber Kieran Young, 20, of Woodside, Bradford.

Mr Young, who works for Bradford Council, said he would "100 per cent" recommend an apprenticeship over going to university.

He said: "At university, all you are doing is learning one thing, so when you come out you only know about that particular aspect, whereas if you take on an apprenticeship, you are learning all sorts of different things."

Another ambassador is Nargas Khan, 20, a second-year apprentice at the Apprentice Training Agency (ATA) in Bradford.

Miss Khan, of Marshfield, Bradford, said: "When I left school I didn't know what to do and what options were out there.

"A lot of people don't know what apprenticeships are out there so going into the ATA helps other people that are in the same position as I was."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, portfolio holder for employment and skills at the Council, said: "Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity for a pathway into a high quality job.

"They are a vital way in which young people can learn about work while developing the important skills our local businesses need.

"I’d urge any young person or business who’s interested in an apprenticeship to contact our Apprenticeship Hub to find out more."