PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson is calling for more local businesses to take on an apprentice, after new research revealed the extent of the benefits involved.

That research revealed that every time a local company hires an apprentice, their bottom line gets an average boost of £1,941.

Last year, 1,150 people started an apprenticeship in Pendle, which means that new apprentices alone provided a local boost of around £2.2million in 2012/13.

Mr Stephenson said: “If they don’t have one already, every local business in Pendle should consider employing an apprentice.

“By giving young people a chance, they will also be boosting their bottom line. The benefit here of £2.2m has made a difference to the local economy, and that’s just from apprentices who began last year.”