Sir Alan Sugar isn't the only one looking for up-and-coming employees of the future. Phil Cooper looks at a new apprenticeship initiative to bring some young blood into local government offices.

Let's be honest, working for local government has never been viewed as sexy. Vital? Yes. Rewarding? Hopefully. Top of the careers list for most school-leavers? Unlikely. The problem this creates for the ageing workforce in most councils has been identified with increasing frequency over the past three or four years.