WIRRAL West MP Esther McVey is to launch a scheme to find her very own protégé in an Alan Sugar-style apprenticeship project.

The Conservative MP wants to find a young worker to train in a bid to give them an alternative to university and the associated debt.

The initiative, which will be launched in September, is open to young people who have an interest in pursuing a career in business, politics or administration.

Ms McVey is hoping that other MPs will follow her lead and contribute to lowering unemployment levels among 16-24 year-olds.

She said: "It's vitally important that we keep investing in our young people and lead by example. If every member of parliament were to employ apprentices it could result in around 1,000 jobs.

"In Wirral we have a great apprentice scheme, and, while it is doing well, it is seriously over-subscribed. Last year, more than 1,000 young people submitted 3,117 applications to the fewer than 150 businesses involved in the scheme.

"To move forward, we need to build on what we have done well, and there is something that each and every one of us in Parliament can do.

Wirral is among ten worst places in the North West for unemployment, with 16.8% 16-18 year olds not in education, training or employment.

And Ms McVey is hoping the scheme will go some way to reduce the number of people out of work in the future.

She said: "It's good to talk about apprenticeships, but surely it is better to turn our words into action, and to that end I am going to employ a modern apprentice to work and train in my constituency office, alongside my established office manager and caseworker.

"Apprenticeships are a great way to learn in a hands-on way while earning a wage at the same time.

"At the end of their two year scheme, my apprentice will have an NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration and will have excellent transferable skills which will be attractive to any employer.

"The likes of Alex Ferguson and Jamie Oliver both started out as apprentices and now they're at the very top of their game.

"We should be ashamed of the fact that the UK has some of the highest levels of youth unemployment in Europe, and be very worried that this number is still growing."

For more information on the scheme, contact The Office of Esther McVey MP, The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre, 31 Hoyle Road, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 3AG, or call 0151 632 4348.