THE Echo has joined forces with South Essex College with the aim of getting 100 apprentices into work in 100 days.

We’ve laid out our reasons for launching the campaign: Cut down on youth unemployment; improve our local economy; and help set a group of young people up for the rest of their lives. But you don’t just have to take our word for it.

We’ve spoken to three very different businesses and their apprentices to highlight how much the scheme has benefited both employer and employee.

So if you run a business and are looking for hard-working dedicated members of staff at a cost-effective rate, you can’t afford not to read on...

For chef Michael Joslin, apprenticeships mean more than just helping his business.

“Apprenticeships are safeguarding the future of British cookery,” he says.

Michael, 25, runs the highly rated Elderberry restaurant in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh.

He took on Zak Perrin, 18, of St Mark’s Field, Rochford, two months ago and says the young chef has already made a huge impact on the business.

Michael explains: “He can do everything across the board and is a tremendous asset to the business. God willing, I will certainly take him on full time when his apprenticeship finishes.

“In fact I would promote him straight away to chef de partie, which would mean he would be doing his own orders, helping write parts of the menu, and help with training the younger chefs.

“He is just brilliant. He learns so quickly because he is doing it for real rather than in a classroom.

“He has learned more in two months than I did in two years because I was based in the classroom.

“If young people are learning their skills in the big chains there is no real flair for cookery. Smaller restaurants like ours taking on apprentices are safeguarding the future of British cookery.”

Zak himself is quick to point out how much he has benefited from his apprenticeship and is eager to repay the business. He says: “When I was five years old I wanted to be a chef. Then, after watching a lot of Masterchef and Ready Steady Cook, I thought the pressure might be too much.

“When the chance of the apprenticeship came up I decided to follow my heart from all those years ago.

“Michael has been brilliant to work for, and I’m just really keen to learn as much as possible and help the business.”

WE want employers to go to www.facebook.com/100in100 to sign up, post their company name and what apprenticeship they would like. Businesses and apprentices can also contact South Essex College on 0845 5212345 or e-mail learning@southessex.ac.uk