The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, kick started National Apprenticeship Week by confirming plans for a £1.8m scheme that will create over 3,500 new apprenticeships across the capital. The funding is expected to open up opportunities in thousands of London businesses that may never have taken on an apprentice before.

Specialist recruitment and training providers are being lined up to partner with the Mayor to deliver a programme that will target businesses of every shape, size and specialism. They will be tasked with finding innovative new ways of delivering apprenticeships and helping young Londoners looking for careers ranging from catering and construction to manufacturing and marketing, with all the support they require to obtain apprenticeships within the capital.

The Mayor met apprentices working at the New England Seafood factory in Chessington, where he tried his hand at “pin-boning” a salmon.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “We want to extend the fantastic benefits apprenticeships offer to thousands more businesses and young people across the capital and help drive the skills and opportunities Londoners need to excel. Our new programme will reach out to those companies yet to dip their toe into the rich pool of talent contained in our capital, and help maintain London’s position as a world leader for training, development and expertise.”