Businesses urged to back young workers
BUSINESSES in the West Midlands are being urged to back young people and become mentors to fight unemployment and social disadvantages.
So far, 500 young people in the West Midlands have asked to be paired up with a mentor in an employment scheme which is part of the Backing Young Britain campaign.
Jobcentre Plus, a partner in the scheme, says that mentors from industries such as travel, IT, engineering and management consultancy have also come on board, but that it still requires more.
The campaign, which was launched a month ago with the backing of Apprentice star Tim Campbell, is now offering to train mentors free of charge.
Mentors will then be paired with a young person who they can help to find work or training.
“This is a chance for people to receive specialist training in how to be a good mentor,” said Richard Smith, a manager for Jobcentre Plus in the Birmingham and Solihull office.
“Those who sign up will acquire additional skills which they can use to help both local young people and their individual business or employer.
“Workers can continue their own professional development and take back these new skills to help support other staff in the business.
“They will also get the opportunity to promote the sector they work in with young people and scout for fresh talent.”
People who become opt to do the training will be taught in mentoring skills and how to take a young person through the job hunting process, into a job and then through the initial first few weeks.
Mentors will hold hour long sessions with the young person over a six month period, although these sessions might be ramped up in the first few weeks of employment.
