A NEW one-stop shop apprentice scheme has been launched to help businesses create 10,000 jobs in the south.

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) unveiled details of the initiative as the economic development body was officially launched at the City Cruise Terminal in Southampton.

The Solent LEP is one of just 24 in the UK approved by the Government after it announced it was scrapping the nine regional agencies, including the South East England Development Agency (Seeda), that were set up by the previous Labour government to boost jobs and redevelopment.

business leaders among the hundreds of delegates at the event were told the innovative apprentice training agency was the “low cost, cost effective”

way to employ junior staff – saving more than £7,000 on recruitment costs.

Under the scheme, called Solent Apprentices for Business, a job description will be agreed with employers and the new apprentice agency will source and shortlist candidates for interview.

The successful apprentices are then placed on a training course with a local college.

The agency will also handle all the payroll red tape and human resource management issues on behalf of employers who pay a fee based on their apprentices wages.

The scheme is part of an action plan by the LEP to lead economic development in the Solent region and target the creation of 10,000 new jobs by 2026.

The Solent LEP has been set up as a private company limited by guarantee, that will be funded from subscriptions and central Government, although much of its work will be done for free.

The board includes business, council and universities leaders.

The launch event was run in partnership with the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.