BARCLAYS will create 75 new apprentices for young people in the North-East over the course of the year.

The move forms part of the bank's pledge to create 800 new apprenticeships around the UK in 2015.

Building on its existing apprenticeship programme, the new roles will focus on helping young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) into full-time, paid positions. The new apprentices will join the 2,000 already appointed by Barclays from around the country over the previous two years.

The 75 successful candidates will work across the business, including the branch network, retail operations and Barclaycard. This is in addition to the recent announcement that Barclays are creating more than 200 jobs in Sunderland where it is opening a new centre of excellence for fraud.

Christine Allenson, site president at Sunderland Contact Centre said: “The most motivating aspect of our apprenticeship programme is seeing young people, especially those who perhaps didn’t achieve academically, grow in confidence and aspiration.

"The apprentices we have on site at Sunderland have achieved fantastic results and are a real asset to the organisation and I’m incredibly excited to welcome the next intake. Our goal is to help our apprentices grow with us, not just in the skills they learn, but in the confidence they gain as well as to help them build a bright future.”