31 July 2012 Last updated at 05:32 ET

Reading council to create youth job mobile app

A Berkshire council is to develop a smartphone app to help young people find employment and training.

Reading Borough Council has been awarded £125,000 to create the program, which aims to help 16 to 25-year-olds find jobs by using social media.

The money comes from The Future Fund, launched by O2 to help councils use technology to engage with the public.

About 40 councils applied for three funding packages worth £125,000, £75,000 and £50,000.

The other authorities to win funding were Merthyr Tydfil & Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Councils, who submitted a joint bid, and Luton Borough Council.

The authority's education and children's service councillor, John Ennis, said: "This is an excellent opportunity to give young people in Reading more tools in their job search in these difficult economic circumstances."

ICT and service improvement councillor Jan Gavin said: "We want to develop an app which utilises the technology found in almost every young person's pocket to maximise their chances of finding a job or training."