A new apprenticeship training agency has been launched to persuade south London firms of the power of taking on trainee staff.

Many businesses see apprenticeships as “over bureaucratic and hard to manage”, according to South London Business chief executive Peter Pledger - a view he hopes his firm’s new scheme will help to change.

The SLB Logistic Apprenticeship Training Agency will recruit oil the wheels of funding and handle red tape itself by recruiting young people and placing them within interested logistics firms, so they can work with companies’ ‘core teams’.

Mr Pledger said: “As we move out of the recession businesses are cautious about taking on new staff and increasing fixed costs.

“At the same time, businesses need young staff that can be trained to meet their business needs.

“While keen on the idea of apprentices, businesses are often reluctant to take apprentices on because of the fear of staff leaving early, the paperwork, the hassle of getting training providers, or the challenge of funding training.

“SLB logistics takes all that hassle away and can provide the young person, the training and the support.”

The placements will last for nine months - the amount of time it takes for an apprentice to complete a relevant qualification - but the recruits can be sent home with four weeks’ notice if firms’ circumstances change.

More than 80 per cent of businesses which employ apprentices report increased productivity in the workplace, according to Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Mr Pledger said: “Croydon has many logistics companies based in the area as well as having retailers and other businesses with a significant logistics function.

“Across London over 660,000 people work in logistics. SLB logistics can help all these companies immediately.

“At the same time we can ensure that young people are properly trained to deliver the work that businesses want.

“We want to help businesses across South London grow and therefore I would be delighted to meet with any business interested in using the services of SLB logistics.”