Under the pilot scheme, the academy will focus on working more closely with SME employers, including printers and paper and cardboard manufacturers, to help them develop training programmes, ensure skills standards and recruit apprentices.

“National Skills Academies, including our own, have close relationships with employers and this funding will help us use our leverage to increase apprenticeship take-up amongst small and medium sized companies which are generally more difficult to reach,” said NSA managing director Jonathan Ledger.

"The scheme will enable us to have more legs on the ground to support SMEs better in recruiting and training apprentices, because many simply don't have the resources to do it by themselves," he added.

"We can also help with issues that may arise between employers and colleges for example."

The apprenticeship pilot is available to employers with less than 1,000 staff across their UK business and who have not taken on an apprentice in the past twelve months.

Ledger said: "The government has really struggled to get SMEs engaged maybe because many SMEs have struggled to keep their lights on in recent years let alone worry about taking on a new employee.

"Taking on apprentices can seem daunting because of the level of support that is needed, and many small businesses don't even consider it. They think it's just for the big boys."

In the first instance the academy is hoping to sign up around 40 businesses by April and is asking employers that fit the criteria and are interested in taking on apprentices to contact them.

“The number of young people out of work is still high at around 920,000, but the trend is a downward one and using this scheme, we can help to give more a starting chance through apprenticeships," said Ledger.

Visit www.mps-academy.co.uk and to register call 01235 432030 or