The National Skills Academy, the delivery arm of Creative & Cultural Skills, has been named the new national provider for the Arts Council's Creative Employment Programme.

The programme aims to help young unemployed people find paid entry level work in the arts and cultural sector.

The decision was the result of an open application process and means the Skills Academy will be responsible for delivering the Arts Council funding of up to £15m which will directly benefit unemployed young people.

The Creative Employment Programme will give young people at the start of their careers paid opportunities to access on the job training, skills and experience that potential employers will value. It is aimed at unemployed people, graduates and non-graduates, aged 16-24.

The initiative looks to support up to 6,500 new apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and paid internships in a variety of roles across the arts and cultural sector at a time when many young people are struggling to find paid employment.

The Skills Academy will deliver the programme through its network of Further and Higher Education partners.