Santander has announced plans to create 400 apprenticeship roles across the UK in 2017/18.

The banking giant is also launching a new traineeship scheme, aiming to offer over 140 places in Bootle and Bradford. The eight-week programme aims to help young people develop employability skills and move into one of the bank’s apprenticeship schemes.

Fast-food chain KFC is to expand its offering by launching new programmes, including level two apprenticeships in food and beverage services and level three, four and five apprenticeships in leadership and management. These new schemes will run alongside KFC’s level six degree apprenticeship programme that launched last year.

Network Rail is also looking to recruit 150 apprentices across the country.

As part of its plans, the rail infrastructure firm’s management staff will be going into schools across the country to deliver educational sessions on careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) sector.

The firm has also announced plans to increase its take-up of female employees to 20% by 2020.

Housebuilder Redrow has created 100 roles on its apprenticeship programme. Representatives from Redrow will be visiting schools and colleges up and down the country to talk to young people about the value of trade apprenticeships as a route into successful careers in construction.

Meanwhile Mitchells & Butlers, the company behind leading pub and restaurant brands such as All Bar One, Harvester, Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery and Browns, has announced plans to increase its current number of apprentices from 1,800 to 5,000 over the next three years.