Businesses large and small in the North East are being offered the chance to attend a free advice forum next month which is designed to help employers find out more about taking on an apprentice and discover the benefits to business that apprenticeships can bring. The North East Apprenticeship Forum takes place on Wednesday 5 March in Newton Aycliffe as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2014, and will give employers the opportunity to seek advice about government funded training in a wide range of industries including Hospitality & Catering, ICT, Business Administration & Customer Service, Engineering & Manufacturing, Hairdressing and Construction. “If you are an employer and thinking about taking on an apprentice, you can find out all you need to know about how apprenticeships can benefit your business and discuss the various funding options with expert training providers,” explained Simon Liversedge, area manager (Newcastle & Durham) for HIT Training, the UK’s leading specialist provider of hospitality and catering apprenticeships. The forum takes place at SW Durham Training Ltd on the Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham. Employers are invited to attend either the free business breakfast networking session between 7.30 – 9am, or the lunchtime session (12.30 – 2pm) for the chance to network with other businesses and to find out about local grants and regional funding for apprenticeships. Free sausage and bacon sandwiches, tea & coffee and a lunch time buffet will be available. Local schools and young people interested in an apprenticeship are also invited to attend between 10am and 12 noon, and to take part in a range of ‘have a go’ workshops, speak to local providers and browse current vacancies. To register your interest and to find out more about the event, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/apprenticeship-forum-tickets-10408400807 or contact Simon Liversedge at HIT Training on 07940 491610.