Five new apprentices have been recruited by Bradford social housing group Incommunities after they were selected from nearly 600 applicants.

The appointments come at a time when young people face a huge battle to get work.

The Telegraph & Argus reported last week that long-term unemployment among the 18 to 24s has rocketed by 860 per cent across the Bradford district in the year to July.

Latest figures also show that of the near 20,000 people in Bradford claiming Jobseekers Allowance, nearly 6,000 are in the 18 to 24 age bracket.

The district’s overall unemployment rate has soared by 17 per cent in the 12 months to July.

The new starters are 22-year-old Antonio Robinson and 16-year-olds Jai Kay and James Swales, who are all electrical apprentices, Brendan Horner, 21, who is training as a gas plumber, and Kieron Cooke, 16, an apprentice joiner.

The group will be trained by trade professionals from the organisation’s Buildingservices and Propertysolutions departments on day-to-day repairs, home refurbishments and adaptations. They will also develop their skills working at the housing group’s specially-built training terrace.

In addition, one day a week they will attend college to work towards NVQ qualifications in their specific trade area.

Delroy Beverley, director of Incommunities – Propertysolu-tions, said: “We are positively enthused by the quality and calibre of our latest intake of trade apprentices.

“We received a record number of applications for a handful of places, which reflects the organisation’s reputation as a top 100 apprenticeship employer. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of our campaign to promote apprenticeship opportunities through our schools, colleges and across communities.”

Geraldine Howley, Incommunities Group chief executive, said: “Apprentice-ships are at the heart of our business and show our commitment to invest in the future.

“In these difficult economic times it is more important than ever that local employers support apprenticeships and at Incommunities each new recruit will benefit from a nationally- acclaimed training programme. This will combine work-based training and college learning.

“I wish our new starters all the best as they embark on their new careers.”

The new recruits take the number of modern construction apprentices with Incommunities to 23, covering gas plumbing, joinery, plastering, electrical work and painting and decorating.