More employers are needed to create vacancies for jobseekers in Nottingham aged between 18 and 24 who have previously struggled to get into work or training.
Over £1m of funding is available for employers who are prepared to take on new recruits. Employers don’t need to be city based, but the new recruits do have to be city residents.
The funding is available thanks to the Nottingham Works programme, which helps young people at risk of social exclusion into jobs and training.
The £6.9m initiative is funded from Nottingham City Council, the European Social Fund and the Youth Engagement Initiative. It is supporting 2800 marginalised and disadvantaged 16-29 year olds in Nottingham who are at risk of social exclusion because they have no work or any prospect of getting a job.
Thanks to the advice and guidance of careers experts, young people who have signed up to the programme are being upskilled to help increase their chances of securing further training, an apprenticeship or traineeship which will lead to a more permanent job.
But with over 900 young people currently receiving support, more employers are needed to give these young jobseekers opportunities to apply for. Of the £1.2m available, £300,000 is earmarked solely for creating apprenticeships. The remaining £900,000 is being used to contribute to the costs of employing and training a young person (up to £8,000*).
Go Digit All is one Nottingham-based company that has taken advantage of the funding. They have employed two apprentices, Oumar Toure (22) from the Meadows and Sadie Barker (18) from Aspley.
Natasha Johnson-Richards, Director Digital Inclusion & Partnerships, for Go Digit All, says: “The funding has allowed us to take on two new apprentices who wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to work with us.”
Sadie says: “My role as a Digital Administration Apprentice has opened up a whole new world of opportunities. It’s given me the chance to evolve and aspire to become a digital media professional. I’m hoping to study digital media to level 3 standard next.”
Councillor Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills, said; “Competition for entry-level jobs is fierce and employers are increasingly demanding more and more experience from job seekers, even from those who are taking their first steps on the jobs ladder.
“This is why we are appealing to all employers, not just those in the city but further afield, who can create new opportunities for city residents and help young people get the experience they need to gain employment and the funding we can offer will hopefully open opportunities for those who need them the most.”
Employers interested in receiving funding should phone Nottingham Jobs on 0115 876 4508 to find out more. The eligibility criteria which apply to NJF+ placements can be found at www.nottinghamjobs.com/employers/NJF
*Based on the National Minimum Wage for a 21 to 24-year-old for 30 hours per week plus a £500 contribution to training costs