'I tried for 1,500 jobs' says apprentice

"I was out of work for a year and in that time I was applying for between 20 and 30 jobs a week," said the 23-year-old from Walsall.

That is a staggering 1,500 job applications – some which never got response.

"It was disheartening and soul destroying," he said.

"I began to think I would never get out of it – I didn't know where to turn."

Edward's plight is a familiar story across the Black Country: young people simply cannot get on the job ladder.

Thankfully for Edward, there was light at the end of the tunnel of gloom – a paid apprenticeship with Caldmore Accord housing provider, which is part of the Accord Group.

"It really is hard to find a job and I wanted to stay in the local and live in the area," he said.

"So I started volunteering with Accord and then was taken on as a support service apprentice in April.

"It was a relief to finally get into work and start on the career ladder.

"I support housing officers by preparing their work and helping customers.

"At the start of the day you may have someone come into the office without a home but by the end of the day you have found them one –that is an incredible feeling. It is one of the best things about this job.

"It is not where I saw myself being five years ago – but now I am here I am loving it. It is nice to have someone who supports you and is giving you an opportunity to do the right thing in the workplace."

More than 8,000 18-24 year-olds in the Black Country are in the dole queues each week.

That is why the Express & Star, along with its expert partners in the Ladder for the Black Country, is encouraging businesses to take on apprentices.

We want to create at least 500 new apprenticeships – to bring the Black Country out of the doldrums and put an end to its shocking youth unemployment record.

The Accord Group and Walsall Housing Group (whg) are among the first companies to sign up to the campaign and pledge to take on more apprentices.

We met with some of their current apprentices to speak to them about apprenticeships.

When Emily Adam, 20, from The Delves area of Walsall, left Joseph Leckie Secondary School, she had the joint best GCSE results in her year.

Her performance prompted interest from high places.

"At the end of my GCSEs, Oxford University offered me go and visit because I had got the highest GCSEs in my school joint with another pupil," she said. "I started doing my A-levels with the dream of going to Oxford. But I left after the first year, went back and started them again, but due to my financial support being cut I could not afford to keep myself there. I had given up my job to go back to college and so was left out of work with no college place.

"Accord were advertising for apprentices and I applied and was successful – it was all completely new to me – I never knew how much there was to know about housing.

"Now I have my apprenticeship I feel like I am on track to a good career.

"I would encourage people to take an apprenticeship because they are good and you learn the skills you need on the job."

In Leamore whg has its Skills Centre.

The training base is home once a week for apprentices learning their trade in bricklaying, plumbing, electrics, and carpentry. The centre includes specially-designed workshops, including makeshift housing frames, plumbing systems and wall building rooms.

Paul Hitchcock, plumbing training assessor at whg's skills centre, said: "When I look at apprenticeships I see the skilled tradesmen of tomorrow.

"When you look at it from that point of view you realise the value of it. I did an apprenticeship, as did other trainers and accessors. When I first started I was not earning as much as my friends were in jobs such as retail, but then after qualifying I soon overtook them.

"There will always be a need for tradesmen. Every industry will be hit in a recession – and I have seen it go full circle three times – but there will always remain that need for someone to fix a leaky pipe or to fit a new bathroom.

"Apprenticeships are a great way of getting your foot in the door, to continue building up your knowledge base, and coming out in a great position to secure a good job."

Three of Mr Hitchcock's apprentices are Ross Hughes from Wednesfield, Alex Guy from Leamore, and Mitchell Robinson from Cheslyn Hay.

Ross, 17, is serving an apprenticeship with whg contractor InEx.

He is on the first year of a four-year apprenticeship.

"I have always wanted to do it and it is really good," he said. "It is ideal for me and I joined up after finishing school."

Alex, 18, is a Choice Plumbing apprentice.

He said: "It is a lot better than school. I got into it via Galliford Try.

"I did a year in college before I came here – but for me the apprenticeship is the best way."

Back at Accord Group, other apprentices are keen to dispel some of the myths and preconceptions people have on apprenticeships.

Kajal Hallan, 20, from Walsall, works as part of Accord's estates team.

"Originally I intended to finish my A-levels and go to university," said the former Willenhall E-ACT Academy pupil.

"Education is important but university does not mean you are guaranteed to be successful. Alan Sugar left school and is one of the most successful and richest people in the country.

"I think apprenticeships are fantastic. I am not saying university graduates don't know what they are doing but some times when they leave university they do not have the work experience or the know how to do the job that employers are after. A lot of people think apprenticeships are not as well to do as degrees, but I think it is completely wrong. At first I was scared because it was my first job but it is really good."

Noorbahar Begum, 19, from Highgate, Walsall, is a former Joseph Leckie Secondary School pupil.

She said: "I left school and wanted to get a job straight away.

"So I applied here, got an interview and was taken on as an apprentice. I am now a full-time member of staff.

"Apprenticeships are very good. The job market is tough so you never know if you are going get a job or not. But with my apprenticeship I have been supported and it has given me the skills and confidence to advance."

Jo Tandy, a 42-year-old mother from Cradley Heath, is an example that apprenticeships are not just a route for school leavers.

After working at Barclays bank for 25 years, including looking after VIP clients, she is now a HR apprentice with Accord.

"After being made redundant I did not just start applying for jobs willy nilly," she said.

"I thought about it and realised I had to work for another 20 years and that it would be time to carve out a new career.

"My daughter is grown up and my husband has been very supportive.

"I am quite anti-university unless you are going to study for a professional career where you know there is a job for you.

"I think going straight into an apprenticeship at 16 is the best route for many because even after two years at college you are likely to be in the same position if then you are looking for an apprenticeship or other work.

"I am hoping to get a permanent job out of it.

"I would say to people, get an apprenticeship unless you have a firm grasp on what you want to do and that requires a different route."

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics again put Wolverhampton as having the highest number of people on jobseekers allowance.

We need your help to make a difference.

Both young people interested in apprenticeships and businesses looking to take on apprentices can call the Ladder for Black Country hotline on 0332409699 or go to ladderforthe blackcountry.co.uk