Business leaders back Wirral Youth Zone to tune of £250,000

TWO Merseyside chief executives have confirmed they will be supporting Wirral’s new Youth Zone to the tune of £250,000 over the next three years.

Asif Hamid of The Contact Company and John Syvret of Cammell Laird are backing Youth Zone as founder patrons.

Both business leaders are now calling for the local private sector to step-forward and back the youth project, which is going to have significant impact on the enterprise and employability opportunities across the region, to help tackle the growing skills gap that many businesses are facing.

Syvret, who is also chairman chairman of the Youth Zone, is personally donating £100,000, as well as £75,000 from Cammell Laird over the next three years.

He said: “As a country we are seriously at risk of creating a lost generation that doesn’t have the skills to lead our businesses in the future.

“I want to create a legacy that gives young people the opportunity to realise their potential and inspire them to look to a future in business.

“The Youth Zone is a key component of our vision to help young people become, happier, healthier and more economically successful adults. This project is truly a game changer for the region and I urge other businesses to step forward and offer their support.”

Entrepreneur Hamid is donating £75,000 from his company over the next three years.

He said: “At The Contact Company we are actively recruiting between 50 to 100 people a month to meet demand, but realistically a lot of young people coming through our doors are just not skill-ready.

“We need to raise the bar in education, but as business leaders we can do a lot more to support our young people.

“The Youth Zone is a once in a generation opportunity to invest in young people, the work that is being done within OnSide’s existing facilities to up-skill their young people is outstanding and when this comes to Wirral it will make such a difference to the region.

“This is exactly the kind of project businesses from across Merseyside should be backing.”

Construction of The Hive, a £6m youth facility, is due to be completed at the end of the year.

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