HALESOWEN MP James Morris has announced he is set to “walk the walk” by taking on an apprentice.

Mr Morris has run a long campaign calling for small businesses across Halesowen and Rowley Regis to give youngsters a chance by taking on apprentices.

He announced this week he is advertising a post in his Halesowen office at Trinity Point opposite Earls High.

The position will offer a salary of £11k a year and will involve working four days a week and spending the other day studying for a Level 2 qualification in Business and Administration at Halesowen College.

Mr Morris said: “I have been working hard to encourage local small businesses to train an apprentice.

“Now, I’ve decided to “walk the walk” and am advertising for an apprentice administrative assistant to help me in my constituency office in Halesowen.

“Apprenticeships play a key role in helping young people into work, getting the training they need for work at the same time as on-the-job experience.

“They are good for the apprentice and good for employers as they get highly-motivated workers who are learning and developing skills that will benefit the company.

“Rather than take on another member of staff in Westminster, I wanted to give a local young person a chance to get their foot on the ladder for a new career.

“It also gives me a chance to gain direct experience of the benefits and challenges facing small businesses in Halesowen and Rowley Regis which train an apprentice.”

The role, which is open to 16 to 24 year-olds, is expected to become a permanent position once the apprenticeship has ended.

James Morris has two full-time staff at his Halesowen office and one full-time worker in Westminster. The £11k salary is coming out of Mr Morris’s staffing budget.

Anybody who is interested in the apprenticeship needs to apply online through the National Apprenticeship Service website by February 13.