by business editor Trevor Sturgess

With youth unemployment running at near record levels, firms are stepping up plans to take on more youngsters.

Housebuilder Redrow Homes, with sites in Kent, is to take on 20 construction apprentices this year.

Apprenticeships were a key feature of last month's Kent 2020 Vision Show, with dozens of young people showing off their new-found skills. Several firms pledged to consider taking on an apprentice. Rocketing university fees is also expected to fuel more demand for apprenticeships.

As part of the campaign, Kent County Council is sponsoring an apprenticeship award in the Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA). The result is announced next month.

Last year, Redrow, which is building in Maidstone and Tonbridge, took on 50 young people as apprentices.

This year's scheme combines on-the-job paid work and an NVQ completed over three years

Director Karen Jones said: "It is vital for our industry that we continue to invest in training, even during testing economic times, to ensure we do not experience a skills shortage in years to come. We want to select the most promising candidates, who are motivated to learn and want to make a career in the industry."

Redrow has also offered positions to six graduate trainees for September this year and has begun the recruitment process for a new intake of under-graduate one-year work placements.