This newspaper is currently running a campaign to help find jobs for young people.

Our 100 in 100 campaign was launched with the aim of encouraging businesses, large and small, to take on apprentices – with a target of placing 100 apprentices in 100 days.

And one business which has rallied to support this campaign is CoreAV Ltd of New Malden, which has just taken on 17-year-old Connor Nicholls from Sutton.

Paul Marshall, director of CoreAV, was only happy to support the campaign.

“Apprenticeships are something I passionately believe in as I was an apprentice myself many moons ago.”

His company designs and installs automated smart home solutions, incorporating multi-room audio and visual systems, mood lighting, home cinema, climate control and home security – or as Paul says ‘high-end boys’ toys’. And you don’t get much more luxurious than having to have remote controlled lighting installed for your helipad – which is just one service the company can offer!

CoreAV undertakes work both on a domestic and commercial front. Paul explains that he opted to employ an apprentice so the person could be moulded to suit the vast range of work the company undertakes.

“My own background is in IT, but one has to be a master of all trades in this company covering everything from electrical work to heating.

“There was no way that I would be able to find someone ready-trained to cover everything we do. I wanted to take on someone we could train and develop to suit our company’s very specific and individual needs.”

Connor proved to be the right someone.

“He has the right person- ality and character and attitude. I had to find someone I knew would fit in with the rest of the team, and would be able to work with the clients we have.”

Connor, who lives in Sutton Common Road, had also seen our campaign and is thrilled at gaining his apprenticeship with CoreAV.

“I am very pleased to get this apprenticeship as there are so many people trying to get one.”

He is currently undertaking an apprenticeship course to be an electrician through Carshalton College. He will work four Paul four days a week and attend college one day a week.

Because the government is anxious to tackle unemployment among the young, it pays for the apprenticeship training, with the business paying the apprentice’s salary.

We need more business people like Paul to take on an apprentice and put someone on course for a worthwhile career. Employing an apprentice can not only help tackle unemployment among the under 25s and change a young person’s life, but can benefit the business too.

Research carried out by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) shows that 80 per cent of people are more than likely to use the services of a business if it offers apprenticeships to young people.

If you think your business would benefit from employing an apprentice then visit apprenticeships.org.uk or call Bek and Lara on 020 7904 0785.