The 'Ladder' initiative is a growing project to create new apprenticeship roles across the West Midlands and the wider country.

But how did it all start?

In September 2012, Ladder for London was launched by then Mayor Boris Johnson and partners to help tackle youth unemployment in the capital, supported by Buckingham Palace and the Duke of York Prince Andrew.

The project went on to create 2,000 jobs.

In 2014, and after discussions with Prince Andrew, Ladder for the Black Country was launched by Midlands training provider Performance Through People and Walsall-based community development body The Vine Trust.

They were supported by a raft of partners including the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, local councils, training providers and newspaper publisher the Midland News Association.

The project helped to create 500 apprenticeship opportunities and its success prompted the launch of sister initiatives covering Staffordshire and Shropshire.

These culminated in the creation of more than 3,000 apprenticeships starts through the Ladder and gained support from high-profile ministers at the time such as David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Gorge Osbourne.

The former Chancellor joined Prince Andrew on a visit to the West Midlands to meet apprentices and their employers who had been engaged through the Ladder while 60 apprentices enjoyed a trip to St James's Palace in London to meet with the Duke of York.

The latest incarnation was launched in summer 2018 and is called Ladder for Greater Birmingham whose aim is to create 1,000 apprenticeship roles across Birmingham and Solihull.

Performance Through People and The Vine Trust are again on board with the project, with funding from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and media support from BirminghamLive and the Birmingham Mail.

Prince Andrew is again showing his support for the project while other stakeholders include Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.