Liverpool has become one of the first cities in the UK to launch a new Youth Contract aimed at lifting teenagers out of unemployment.

Launching today (Monday 5 November), the Youth Contract Apprenticeship Business Grant Initiative offers a subsidy of up to £3,500 for employers to take on young people who are aged 16-17 and not in education, employment and training (NEET).

The funding pays for the first six months of a minimum 12-month apprenticeship and covers the cost of the national minimum wage for apprenticeships, which is currently £3.68 an hour.

Applications are being invited from businesses offering employment beyond the apprenticeship term, and emphasis will be given to employers who fill recognised skills gaps or priority areas.

The priority areas include tourism and the creative sector.

For more information on the scheme click here.