Local apprentices showcased their talents to four time Manchester City player of the year, Richard Dunne, as City in the Community celebrated the launch of a new job initiative.

As CITC marks 30 years of making a difference in Manchester, the former Blues skipper joined Lucy Bronze at the City Football Academy to recognise the creation of 20 full-time apprenticeships for young people in the area.

CITC has joined forces with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry’s Royal Foundation and as part of this the City duo had the opportunity to witness the benefits of its Coach Core programme.

Developed as part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy, the scheme aims to create inspirational community sports coaches.

BT are also on board with CITC and the Royal’s charity, who have worked in conjunction with North West sport organisations to create apprentice opportunities for aspiring coaches.

CFA was the venue as these young people demonstrated the breadth of their training and skills to Dunne and Bronze, who got involved to learn some new skills of their own, includingfinding out what’s required to play rugby.

In return, BT Sport pundit Dunne took the apprentices behind the scenes at the broadcaster’s Etihad Stadium studio for a Q&A with fellow pundits - including Rio Ferdinand- and BT Sport producers, ahead of the Blues’ Champions League tie against Monaco.

“I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact City in the Community initiatives are having right here in Manchester and I’m proud that we’re teaming up with the Royal Foundation and BT to offer life-shaping apprenticeships,” Lucy Bronze.

“Today has been a lot of fun and I think we have all been inspired by the passion and work ethic displayed by the apprentices.”

Since The Royal Foundation established Coach Core in 2012, nearly 100 apprentices from challenging backgrounds have graduated from the Coach Core scheme with 98% going into full time education or employment.

Manchester is the latest city to benefit, with HRH Prince Henry of Wales adding: “Manchester is a city which is full of sporting heroes, I am pleased that through Coach Core Team Manchester, we will be creating a group of sports coaches who can in turn inspire other young people from their community.”