A Sheffield charity is appealing to South Yorkshire businesses to give young people a chance to turn their lives around in the New Year after the devastating effect the epidemic had on their schooling .
The Source Skills Academy is a not-for-profit organisation which exists to get people into jobs and upskill the employed.
It has moved swiftly to expand its Traineeship programme, which has been successfully re-setting the futures of jobless 16-18s for over four years.
Over 18 weeks, its tutors help students prepare for work, building confidence, improving Maths and English skills, helping them gain qualifications and a professional attitude.
There will now be four courses a year but The Source needs local businesses to give Trainees work placements, a crucial, life-shaping element of the programme.
“Our Traineeships are even more vital now. Many teens have been badly affected by the pandemic. They lost time in the classroom and missed out on the customary work experience placements which help prepare them for employment. Without that, even the lowest rung of the career ladder is out of reach,” said Chloe Granger, Traineeships Delivery Team Manager.
“Our programme gives them the chance to make a new start but it’s vital we find our Trainees relevant, on-the-job work experience. It makes a huge difference to their confidence and communication skills. They develop a firmer idea of their career path, discover their worth and aim higher,” said Chloe.
Already a number of local businesses have answered the call. One of them is Vulcan Engineering at The South West Centre, Troutbeck Rd, Sheffield, one of the world’s leading mechanical and encapsulated seal manufacturers.
Founded in 1986, its products are used in everything from dialysis machines to swimming pools, water sewerage plants to oil refineries – and the household washing machine.
It employs 110 people in Sheffield and at its sister company in Minneapolis, which serves the North American market.
A number of its staff found their place in the company via the 1980s Youth Training Scheme for school-leavers.
One of them, Louise Ebdon, Group HR Executive Manager, commented: “Work experience gave me a career in a sector I would never have known about and the fact that Vulcan showed faith in me when I was young is the reason I love bringing people into the business and developing them, an important part of my HR role.”.
“Vulcan is currently training eight apprentices. It’s part of the company’s culture to provide people with the opportunity to prove themselves and that’s why we have signed up to The Source Academy’s Traineeship programme,” said Louise. “We really see the value in this initiative.”
Vulcan’s first work placement Trainee is Rotherham 16-year-old Adil Ali. He is working two days a week, gaining mentoring and training in warehousing, assembly and picking and packing.
Trainees have 110 hours of work experience with local employers over 10 weeks.
Quality placements in customer service, warehousing and admin are being sought with companies across the SCR.
Employers get support from The Source and companies could just find their perfect new apprentice, says Chloe: “Bosses can get to know trainees and evaluate how they would fit into their business long-term.”
