City firms are marking Social Mobility Day with the official launch of an initiative to boost the number of solicitor-apprentices in the capital.

As the Gazette revealed last month, 50 firms signed up to the City of London Law Society’s City Century initiative after it quietly launched in December. The programme, designed to identify, attract, recruit, educate, qualify and develop committed solicitor-apprentices, officially launched today.

The programme, instigated by Linklaters alongside Allen & Overy, Eversheds Sutherland, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright and Osborne Clarke, has received widespread support, according to a City of London Law Society press release.

Robert Halfon, minister for skills, apprenticeships and higher education, said: 'Giving more people from all backgrounds the chance to enter this prestigious career without a student debt is a significant step forward in building a skills and apprenticeships nation and I commend their commitment to social mobility.'

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said initiatives such as City Century should be commonplace in all professions, 'but it’s great to see many of the major City law firms finding new ways to support talented and aspiring young lawyers'.

Law Society president Lubna Shuja praised City firms for 'coming together to unlock fresh talent from all backgrounds to the benefit of individuals who choose this route and our globally leading sector'.

Almost half of all UCAS users – around 425,000 people – are now interested in apprenticeship roles, UCAS chief executive Clare Marchant said.

The majority of firms registered with City Century will welcome their first cohort of solicitor-apprentices this autumn. City Century envisages at least 100 new partners will have been created by the solicitor-apprentice route by 2040.