A SKILLS centre in Carlisle has welcomed more than 90 new trainees.

Over 90 apprentices have started vocational courses at Gen2's centre at Kingmoor Park.

They are among 300 apprentices to start with the west-Cumbrian based organisations this month, a figure which is set to rise to over 425 by August 2017.

The north Cumbrian apprenticeships cover business, IT and engineering with employers including Innovia, Pirelli, Futamura, Crown Specialities, Bendalls and Crown Bevcan.

Vera Wood, Gen2's operations manager, said: "We have been impressed this year with the quality of local young people who have applied for our engineering, business and administration schemes."

Amongst those starting with Gen2 this month are 33 students who are starting a degree apprenticeship with companies including Morgan Sindall, Jacobs, Balfour Beatty and Sellafield Ltd.

The degree apprenticeship takes place over five years.

The rigorous academic and vocational programme will see successful trainees achieve a level six apprenticeship, which will include an honours degree in engineering.

Mike Smith, Gen2's chief executive, said: "This continued demand clearly demonstrates the importance and value that our employers continue to place on high quality apprenticeships.

"With well over 2,600 applicants across the county, it also shows that young people are looking for alternatives to traditional education routes, including going on to sixth form and university.

"Increasingly they want to gain the employability skills that companies need as well as learn a profession whilst being paid, which is what an apprenticeship gives."

Gen2’s success rates continue to be well above the national average with 91 per cent of trainees achieving their apprenticeship.