MEMBERS of the Royal family and MPs have backed our Route to Work campaign.
Since the Mirror launched the scheme just over a month ago, businesses in and around East Surrey have pledged to create 25 apprenticeships.
The initiative to help unemployed young adults into work was started after we revealed this is one of the hardest areas in the country to get into a business.
Following support from Surrey County Council and a number of royals, this week Reigate MP Crispin Blunt, East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah, and the Duke of Gloucester have joined in.
Mr Blunt said: "I very much support this scheme.
"Apprenticeships are an important alternative route to a successful career. It's excellent."
Mr Gyimah, who ran his own successful campaign to find 100 apprentices in 100 days earlier this year, added: "I'm fully behind this great initiative to get young people into work and learning essential skills.
"Earlier in the year my local campaign exceeded its target, demonstrating a clear appetite for young talent amongst businesses in our area.
"So congratulations to the Surrey Mirror on picking up the baton and I fully support the campaign."
The Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have all sent their best wishes regarding the scheme, which already has the support of the Duke of Kent.
In a letter to the Mirror this week, the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen's cousin, said: "This campaign comes at a time when unemployment remains high, when competition for jobs is increasingly hard, and when it remains extremely difficulty for unemployed young people to get on to the first rung of the work ladder."
He added: "I therefore commend the 'Route to Work' campaign to employers in East Surrey and wish you all the best of luck with this excellent initiative."
To keep the ball rolling, e-mail editor@surreymirror.co.uk
