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More spaces have become available on an initiative which will see young people end up with full-time employment for a year.
Working with children’s charity Banardo’s, DYW Moray has opportunities for two young people to start the programme in early 2019.
The scheme which focuses on customer service and retail takes the young people through three stages – pre-employability training, work experience and then employment.
Jill Armitt, Chair of the DYW Moray Board explained: “This a unique and exciting project for Moray, supporting one of our key sectors in the area: retail. It is all about preparing young people for the work place by providing a structured programme that allows a young person to build on their customer service skills with the end goal being permanent employment with a local business.”
Banardo’s lead the project providing young people with the support and training required to achieve an SVQ Level 2 in Customer Service.
The pre-employability training includes a variety of different activities such as role play, creating posters on skills and qualities, discussion exercises based on what good/bad customer service looks like, workplace visits and talks from the high-quality customer service organisations.
Following the pre-employability training, the young people move on to carrying out a 3-6 work placements with a local retail business and on completing this, the young people then undergo full-time paid employment with a local business for up to 52 weeks.
Sarah Baxter, DYW Moray Manager said: “The key aim of this programme is to get the young people into sustained permanent employment and provide them with the stepping stones to get them there. This programme is for any young person aged 16 – 24 who would feel they would benefit from it and has an interest in working in a customer service environment. The young person not only gets paid employment, but they get a customer service qualification which as well as work experience is what employers seek today.”
Johnathan Mitchell has been working through the programme and is now in full-time employment with Game.
He said: “I managed to learn everything really quickly in the workplace due to the staff being really helpful and welcoming. The highlight of my placement has been getting to know the people I work with and speaking to the customers. Since I’ve loved my placement so much, I hope to get a full-time contract with the business.”
Patricia Anderson, Employer Liaison Officer who is leading the programme from Barnardo’s Works said it was an exciting opportunity: “Barnardo’s Works aims to support young people who are keen to enter the workplace by providing meaningful training and guidance to help them understand employer needs and expectations. This exciting and new opportunity supports the progression from pre-employment training to in work professional development and is a chance to offer ongoing guidance while gaining a recognised vocational qualification in customer service skills, that can be used in any working environment. We are delighted to be working alongside local employers and in partnership with DYW on this.”
There is now availability for more young people to start this programme in early 2019. If you would be interested in gaining a qualification, training and full-time paid employment with support provided throughout, please contact Patricia Anderson on 01463 715178 or at patricia.anderson@barnardos.org.uk