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8 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com WK The Champion • Wednesday 19 June 2013Pals’ grand effort for cancer charityFRIENDS andcolleagues fromAughton StMichael’s CEPrimary School tookpart in CancerResearch’s Race ForLife in Southport.The group of 16runners raised£1,060 on the5–kilometre run inVictoria Park onSunday, June 9.Group leader,AmandaFerguson–Lock said:“I’d like to say thankyou to everyone fortheir support,whether it wasfinancial orencouragement.”The St Michael’s runners who raised more than £1,000Code NACall for more apprenticeshipsLocal advertising works! Our sales team can show you how.Call 01704 392392 for friendly and helpful advice1120095BUSINESSES across Lancashire arebeing urged to offer moreapprenticeships after figures revealedthat eleven candidates are battling itout for every vacancy.The National Apprenticeship Servicerevealed there were almost 370,000applications for apprenticeshipsbetween February and April this yearbut just 32,600 vacancies.Liz Field from the Financial SkillsPartnership, which approvesapprenticeships and assists inregulating employer–led standards,said: “These figures show that therehas been a positive reaction fromyoung people to vocational routesinto jobs.“For sectors such as finance thathaven’t been seen as traditionalapprenticeship–based industries, thework that has been carried out tocreate awareness of apprenticeshipshas shown progress.“There is now an even biggerchallenge to businesses in Lancashireto further embrace apprenticeshipsand roll them out in a way that bettermeets this increased demand. Thismeans more apprenticeship places areneeded and the focus should remainon quality of the apprenticeshipoffered by employers.”“Higher apprenticeships have beenone area that has shown significantgrowth and they have opened manydoors for more young people thathave struggled to find ways into workbeside traditional university routes.“We’re expecting that many morebusinesses will see the benefits ofapprenticeships and as many firmswill look to fuel the next chapter ofgrowth, these enthusiastic youngpeople who are bright, keen to learnand can be moulded into a companyculture will be an ideal way to dothis.”Join us in the launching of our enchanting, handcraftednew collection by ‘Blossom’ on Friday 21st June1119979