Eat your heart out Lord Sugar! The countywide search for 30 Essex apprentices has already secured the first two jobs for young people.

The 30 vacancies in 30 days of November campaign, run by employment and skills specialist Seetec, includes a wide variety of positions in digital marketing, IT, business administration and sales.

The campaign has inspired the Essex business community with Boxtree Recruitment in Shoebury and Impulse Leisure in Grays already signing up a recruitment consultant apprentice and a digital marketing apprentice.

The first filled vacancy of the campaign is at Boxtree Recruitment, with an 18-year-old due to join the recruitment agency later this month.

Boxtree founder and managing director Toni Dines, who started the company while still in her twenties, is enthusiastic about recruiting young talent. She said: “Apprentices are a really good way to grow the business.

“We are a young company, and we like to be able to support young people as they embark on a career, and to nurture our own talent in Essex.

“We don’t just want experienced people, we want people with drive and enthusiasm who want to get on. They may not have had the opportunity previously, and they can come in and really benefit the business.”

Toni said this would be her first Seetec apprentice.

She added: “Seetec listened to what we wanted, and carried out the screening process for us. We’ve recruited a local teenager as a recruitment consultant apprentice, and we hope she will learn the ropes and progress to become a consultant for us.”

Other varied and exciting opportunities across the county include a social media apprentice at AC Radio Cabs in Southend.

Swiftclean in Southend is also looking for two business administrators, and a Colchester bed shop is looking for a customer service apprentice.

Seetec’s head of apprenticeship operations Nikki Bardsley said: “We have had a fantastic response from the Essex business community and, with their support, we hope this month to help 30 young people to take their first steps towards a successful career.

“As well as providing real opportunities for young people, apprenticeships help businesses to recruit the talent they need for future growth.”

Young people interested in apprenticeship opportunities should contact Seetec on 01702 208270 or visit seetec.co.uk/apprenticeships or search for #3030inEssex on social media.