KEIGHLEY College is on a mission – to place 100 apprentices in as many days.

The Bradford Road campus launched its campaign to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week.

A similar initiative last year by the college – part of the Luminate Education Group – was a huge success, placing 150 apprentices in sectors including business, hospitality, engineering and health and social care. It was held in conjunction with Leeds City and Harrogate colleges.

Overall, Keighley College currently has over 400 apprentices on a range of programmes.

Clare Fitzgerald – the college's head of stakeholder engagement – said the campaign aimed to help support businesses in developing skills for the future and to increase the number of apprentices, as part of the levelling-up agenda.

She added: "We want to be the provider that helps people take their careers to the next level and we're delighted to be running this fantastic initiative again.

"Whether you're just starting your first job or looking to make a career change, we want to support you. We also want to address the staff shortages and supply chain disruption faced by many businesses in Keighley and surrounding areas.

"The business advantages of taking on an apprentice have never been more significant.

"More and more employers today are seeing the benefits of apprenticeships, with several businesses in the Keighley district – including Airedale Hospital, Produmax and Canvasman – working in partnership with us to deliver a comprehensive apprenticeship programme.

"We would like to engage with as many businesses as possible to create the type of opportunities that will be beneficial, both to the apprentice and employer."

For more details about the campaign and how to hire apprentices, email clare.fitzgerald@keighleycollege.ac.uk.

The success of apprenticeship schemes locally has been spotlighted in Parliament by Keighley MP Robbie Moore.

During a question to Education Minister Michelle Donelan, he referred to a recent visit to Byworth Boilers in Keighley where he had met past and present apprentices.

He praised the efforts of the company and others across the town to provide young people with high-skilled work.

And Mr Moore urged the Government to use Keighley "success stories" as a model for the rest of the country.

He said: "Apprenticeships give young people a great way to learn while they are working, and to take a fast-tracked route to a highly-skilled job. For employers, apprentices bring passion and energy into their business."