by Business editor Trevor Sturgess

As youth unemployment soars to record levels, a growing recruitment firm is targeting apprentices to fill some of its 37 new jobs.

Award-winning RecruitmentGenius.com, based in Sevenoaks, has opened its second office in Maidstone.

The company, founded by Geoff Newman pictured left, has pioneered a scheme that costs clients just £199 plus Vat. It placed 38,000 candidates in its first year, mostly in the UK but also in Australia, America, Canada and Denmark.

It was recently named British Chambers of Commerce best new business in London and the South East. One of its apprentices Zoe Chatfield was a finalist in this year's Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA).

The firm is leasing offices in Kent House, Maidstone, and has already started recruiting.

"A lot are going to be apprenticeships," said Mr Newman. "I would like to think that at least half will be apprentices. We really throw them in at the deep end because we want to give them enough training so that after a year, when they finish with us, they go into another organisation with the skills they need."

RecruitmentGenius.com takes on young people from 16 - 20. "As long as they've got a grade A for attitude, we don't care what they've got in terms of academic qualifications," said Mr Newman.

"2011 has been a fantastic year, seeing great business confidence, significant growth and many acquisitions. This has culminated in us consolidating our existing position with a new office in Maidstone, which we also hope will be a stepping-stone for further growth."

He plans to open offices in Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow.