Keepmoat supports initiative to help young people into work

Published by Craig Downs for Keepmoat in Housing and also in Communities, Education

A new initiative which has been launched to help young people into the world of work has received support from Keepmoat.

The Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP, Labour Member for Salford and Eccles, launched the Kids without Connections work experience programme in partnership with Salford City College to encourage local young people to carry out work placements with local businesses.

A number of companies signed up to the scheme to provide work experience placements for young people and to learn about the opportunities that are available.  They will also be given help with CV writing, presentation skills and interview techniques which are all essential skills to have when applying for work.

After hearing about the initiative at an open day, housing and regeneration specialist Keepmoat signed up to the programme and offered work placements to two local people.  Neil Hatfield and Alkhtab Rageh were offered placements which provided them with the skills and knowledge of work within the construction industry.  Following successful placements, Neil has since gone on to secure full time employment as a joiner with MH Construction in Wigan and Alkhtab has decided to undertake further studies at Eccles College to help him to strive for a career in the engineering sector.

Neil, 23 from Irlam in Salford said: “I am very grateful to Keepmoat for giving me the opportunity of the work placement as this has led to full time employment in a career that I am interested in.  Work experience is a convenient way to get into work and gain experience and I found it really helpful which not only allowed me to get a foot in the door but also helped me to make contacts too.

“Prior to this placement, I was unemployed and looking for work and now I am carrying out roofing works and fitting solar panels to homes, its great.”

Whilst addressing perspective employers from Parliament last month, Paul Hughes, Area Director at Keepmoat, said: “Keepmoat has an excellent track record of working with apprentices and supporting young people and as a local company based in Salford, we were naturally delighted to get involved in the Kids without Connections initiative.

“The scheme has already been a huge success and we are pleased with the progress that Neil and Alkhtab have made in a relatively short space of time.  Both can be very proud of their achievements and I would like to wish them every success in their careers for the future.”

Hazel Blears MP said: “I wanted to establish a programme, in partnership with local businesses to provide work experience for local young people – recent figures showed that 1,060 people aged under 24 were claiming Job Seekers Allowance in my constituency.

“Lots of young people in Salford and Eccles are struggling to find work and they tell me that they apply for plenty of jobs but aren’t offered interviews because employers want people with experience and it’s hard to get work experience if you don’t have the right contacts.

“I am delighted that a company as big as Keepmoat has signed up to the programme to offer work experience to young people.

“The benefits can be seen in the success of Neil and Alkhtab.”

Work placements are offered to local young people, between the ages of 16 to 24, to give them a period of work experience which will help prepare them for work and increase their chances and opportunities.