The Argus has smashed its target to find 50 apprenticeships in just five days.

Having set the ambitious target, the city’s business community pulled through with 67 new opportunities created.

The number of pledges has more than doubled the newspaper’s achievement in opening up 32 apprenticeship opportunities during last year’s bid to find 25 in five days.

The apprenticeship push, in partnership with City College Brighton and Hove, has gathered real momentum after being featured in our pages every day this week.

It was initiated at the start of the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week and with one day to go, we had already achieved 43 pledges.

A final push saw 15 more from Brighton and Hove City Council in business administration, health and social care, customer service and IT roles while Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust pledged one business administration apprenticeship role and two customer service roles at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Also making the final cut were Brighton hairdressing duo Pewees and North Laine Hair Company which offered four and one apprentice role respectively.

Burgess Hill-based Pragma Distribution has also put forward an opportunity in IT in its mobile phone technology firm.

Michael Beard, editor of The Argus, said: “What this means is that The Argus and City College have put nearly 70 youngsters on the path to employment.

“We are absolutely delighted with the number which has smashed our original target and doubled last year’s figure.

“I must thank every single employer who has responded to our campaign and wish all the apprentices the very best for the future. We knew this was an ambitious target so to have gone so far beyond it is an incredible achievement and shows the value and benefits to be gained by businesses working together.”

Lynn Thackway, principal and chief executive of City College Brighton and Hove, said she was “thrilled and delighted” with the number of apprenticeships secured and thanked all employers who took part.

She said: “Throughout the week we have been monitoring our progress and the atmosphere at college has been tense and exciting as the number of employers pledging opportunities continued to exceed all expectations.

“This is a tremendous achievement and signals the strength of support from employers across the city for our young people who are the future of our city.

“Working with The Argus on this joint challenge has once again been a huge success and already we are planning the next campaign with even higher aspirations.”

Councillor Sue Shanks, chair of the children and young people committee, said the latest 15 pledges took the council within touching distance of its own target of 70.

She added: “It’s vital that we match the future expertise and skills needs of the council with the need to recruit, train and develop local young talent that will help us find smarter ways to deliver the 800 services we provide every day.”

Tracey Prescott, general manager at Peewees, said: “These youngsters are the future hair designers.

“We have apprentices who started 15 years ago who have now reached managerial roles with us.

“It’s hard work but if you are taking on an apprenticeship for a profession you can’t expect it to be easy.”