Hundreds of unemployed young people could receive a boost onto the careers ladder thanks to two schemes worth more than £500,000 a year.

Brighton and Hove City Council has signed off the separate deals to help some of its 1,500 out of work people aged between 18 and 24.

The Green administration believes the potentially self-funding projects will boost business and increase the city's skilled workforce.

However, opposition councillors, who were presented the proposals just hours before a decision was due, were concerned the local authority would be left footing a bill of more than £2 million if targets are not met.

Employment cabinet member Amy Kennedy said: “This is such a positive boost for the young people and businesses of the city, increasing our skilled workforce, generating new opportunities and building confidence in the business community.

“l look forward to following the progress of these young people throughout their apprenticeships which will provide them with passports for future employment and training which will benefit everyone in the city.”

The report into the schemes was published on the morning before the meeting where the contracts were agreed to be signed.

Conservative councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: “All groups should have briefings or at least the chance to look at proposals before a decision is made.

“By the time we received the report it was certainly at the last moment and it certainly was not written in plain English.”

The first contract with Avanta, a private firm appointed by the Government to lead a national back-to-work programme, is for five years in the Brighton and Hove, Rother and Adur areas of Sussex.

Jobseekers between the ages of 18 and 24 will be referred to the council by Jobcentre Plus and placed in vacancies advertised by local businesses, public and voluntary sector organisations.

However, if the young people do not complete the 13 month term, then the local authority is liable to pick up a bill of up to £2,900 per person.

The local authority has set up a £100,000 liability scheme to counter this and said it can cancel the deal after two years.

For the project to break even, it will need to place about 35 job seekers every year for the full placement period.

The second is a two year graduate and apprenticeship placement scheme to help 96 individuals until June 2013.

It is a European-funded scheme which includes six other local authorities across the south of England and northern Europe.

But if it fails then the city council, which is acting as the lead body, will be responsible for ensuing about £2.3 million is repaid to the EU funders Interreg.

Labour and Co-op councillor Warren Morgan said he was concerned, adding: “The Green administration should ensure all other avenues of support and training, including meaningful work experience programmes for young people, are maximised to protect the council's liability.”