CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride met up with a group of trainee bricklayers to find our more about a national apprenticeship programme.

Mr Stride met the NVQ level 2 apprentices Alex Westmore, Luke Grant and Martin Everard when he visited the Abbeyford Rise development being built by Linden Homes.

Mr Stride said: 'It was great to meet three young people with such ambition and a real desire to get on and make something of themselves.

'They're only just starting out on their careers, but with a trade under their belt, they'll be well-equipped to succeed in life.

'As the economy picks up, here in Devon and in the country as a whole, we are going to need more skilled workers like Alex, Luke and Martin — something this Government recognised early on, which is why we're now investing record amounts to give more young people an opportunity in life.

'I think it's encouraging that employers like Linden Homes are getting involved, providing a structured programme. They know it will pay them to have skilled tradesmen in the future, building quality homes that people want to buy. And of course it's a real investment in local communities.'

Bill Cawse, development director at Linden Homes, said: 'Our apprenticeship scheme has been an overwhelming success so far. In just two years, we've recruited over 100 young people in the south west alone, working in partnership with our sub-contractors.

'It's our ambition to have 500 apprentices across the country by 2015.

'We see apprenticeships as key to sustaining and developing skills that will be vital to our industry in the years ahead. Without them, the house building industry will struggle to deliver the new homes we need.

'The people we recruit are determined, hard-working individuals, that deserve to be supported.'