PLANS to launch a scheme to help some of the unemployed school leavers in Hambleton are being drawn up.

The district council is looking to set up an apprentice scheme to support 16 to 24-year-olds in their first year of work.

Senior councillors are in talks with members of the Hambleton Business Forum and Job Centre Plus about a scheme to bring young people into full time work.

"A lot of our young people leave school and have no hope of a job – and no future to look forward to," said council leader Neville Huxtable.

"This authority has banked a good deal of savings, partly through its shared services programme, and it is now time for us to look at ways of reinvesting some of those savings back into our communities.

"Hambleton has its fair share of young people out of work – if we can work with local business leaders to subsidise employment for some of them, we will be helping to secure the future of the district and its youngsters."

Full details of the proposed scheme – including the cash investment needed - will be brought before a future meeting of the council’s cabinet.