Financial services giant American Express has recruited 13 young adults in Sussex for its new apprenticeship initiative.

The 16 to 19-year-olds are the first to join the Amex trainee scheme since the new foundation modern apprenticeship initiative was launched by the Learning and Skills Council.

Therese Cole, who runs the programme for Amex, said: "We have a wonderful group of young people starting with us this week who were selected for their initiative and drive.

"We have high hopes they will achieve the excellent results we have seen from our other trainees during the last 17 years."

After two days of introduction to Amex, with strong focus on the importance of customer service and citizenship, the trainees will start their apprenticeship.

This includes work-based training, rotating around the business, depending on each individual's interests, and college training at Brighton and Hove Training Association, which works in partnership with Amex on National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) assessment.

The trainees aim to achieve NVQ, some Level with key skills and others Level 3, and will effectively be ready to take up a job in a year's time.

More than 70 per cent of trainees gain employment with Amex after their one-year apprenticeship.

Since the Amex trainee programme was launched in 1983, about 400 young people have benefited from the scheme, with many participants still employed in the Sussex offices of Amex.

Henry Ball, executive director of the Sussex Learning and Skills Council, said: "Amex is flying the flag in supporting young people with good school examination results who are choosing to follow the workbased training route to develop their careers.

This is as vital to Sussex businesses as the route through sixth forms or colleges.

We are urging businesses across the region to follow their lead and take part in the foundation modern apprenticeship scheme.

It's good for business and for Sussex." Amex has vacancies for more young people to join the scheme.