A campaign to create apprenticeships for young people in Oldham has passed its target, with more than 100 opportunities pledged in 100 days.

The 100 Apprenticeships in 100 Days campaign was launched by Oldham College with Oldham Council in May. It set out to secure 100 openings for people aged 16 to 24 and has now gone past that figure. Seventy employers backed it.

The pledges cover sectors including digital, education, construction, accounting, business administration, horticulture and care. Some young people have already been taken on and have started their apprenticeships as a result.

Organisations that pledged more than one apprenticeship included Oldham Council, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), Halton Borough Council, Guiding Light Childcare and St George's Care Centre.

Oldham College said the timing mattered, because the campaign began as young people were preparing to leave school and college and decide on their next steps. The college supports around 800 apprentices each year, working with employers in Oldham and the wider area.

Lisa Liddy, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeship and Skills at Oldham College, said: "Reaching more than 100 apprenticeship opportunities in 100 days is a fantastic result and I want to thank every employer that got behind the campaign. The real success is what those opportunities mean for young people. It's a chance to get into work, learn new skills and start building their careers. We've had 70 employers come forward, which shows just how much support there is for apprenticeships and for developing new talent. We're not stopping at 100. We'll keep working with employers to create more opportunities and make sure local young people have the skills businesses need."

James Kington, Director of Growth at Oldham Council, said: "This is a great result and shows what can happen when employers, Oldham College and the Council work together. Apprenticeships give young people a route into work and the chance to build their skills, while helping businesses develop the workforce they need. We want more young people to be able to build their careers locally and more businesses to have access to the skills they need. This campaign has helped us do both."

The end of the 100 days does not end the college's apprenticeship work. Seven new programmes are being launched this week in areas including gas engineering, electrical installation, property maintenance, education, early years and oral health.

Foundation Apprenticeships are also being introduced. Aimed mainly at young people aged 16 to 21, they are entry-level courses with no previous qualifications or experience required, providing training and experience across a broad occupational area. They can lead to employment or to a more specialised apprenticeship.

The college's apprenticeships team will continue to work with businesses that want to recruit, offering support with vacancies, finding candidates, onboarding, training and funding. Employers can find out more on the college's Take on an Apprentice webpage.