Following the fifth annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), 6-10 February, Link4Life, which runs 10 sites across the borough of Rochdale, celebrated the positive impact that apprenticeships are having on its businesses.

Link4Life has offered voluntary apprenticeship positions to create opportunities for young people to gain full employment in the fitness industry, once they have completed their apprenticeship training.

Link4Life's story follows a trend highlighted by a recent survey by national training provider, Lifetime, which shows that employers prefer to hire young people who have gained 'on the job' skills.

Nigel Wallace, director of training at Lifetime, confirms the value of on the job training and the delivery of multi skilled, job ready professionals into the working world: "At a time when the job market is so very competitive, people need to make their CV shine and stand out from the crowd. Gaining on the job training through an Apprenticeship programme offers an ideal opportunity for young people to gain recognised industry qualifications and showcase their skills to employers," he said.

Nineteen-year-old Harrison Reeve from Heywood was working in a job he didn't like and was looking for a way into the fitness industry before enrolling with the Lifetime Fitness Academy and gaining entry to an Apprenticeship programme, giving him the skills and experience to turn his life around.

Having completed his Academy training and Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship, Harrison was employed as a casual gym instructor by Link4Life and quickly progressed to a permanent contract and is now looking forward to a bright future in the fitness industry.

Harrison says: "I was in a job I did not enjoy and the Lifetime Academy gave me an ideal pathway into the industry I wanted and a career I can enjoy. I am still improving my skills with Link4Life and with more NVQ training delivered by Lifetime which is furthering my chances."

Emma Conway, duty manager at Heywood Sports Village said: "Harrison's story is a great example of how apprenticeships can work. He was liked immediately by the customers and is always buzzing around the gym."

Wallace concludes: "As Harrison's story illustrates, government funded apprenticeship programmes can deliver staff with an array of skills; sector specific knowledge, interpersonal qualities and professional maturity, skills that employers are telling us they want from young people. And for employers in the current climate this cost-effective method of training and recruitment has never been so beneficial."