Last year we celebrated Employability Day in the middle of our first national lockdown, when pub quizzes had just moved to Zoom and banana bread was a staple of our diets. This year feels a world away from the early days, with many organisations now considering what the world of work will look like as restrictions ease and we move forward into a new landscape.
The past year has been a tough time for many of our customers, whether they’ve been furloughed from their roles in a range of industries, made redundant or lost out on other opportunities. It’s been a particularly challenging time for young people, who have faced fewer job opportunities just as they enter a new phase of their life. Whether fresh out of school, college or university, or still new to the world of work, young people have been some of the worst affected by employment challenges during the pandemic.
Today, we’re sharing some information to support young people in their job search and highlight opportunities that might help them to get ahead in their careers as we hopefully move out of lockdowns and towards a bright future.
Kickstart your career
In 2020, the government announced funding for the Kickstart Scheme, allowing organisations to offer 16-24 year olds exciting new opportunities within their company, to help them meet need and build the skills of the next generation of workers. Each placement will run for six months, offering a salary and training in a specific field, allowing a young person to develop their experience so they have a strong footing to start their journey in their chosen field.
Kickstart placements will be offered in a range of industries, and anyone can apply if they meet the following criteria:
- Between 16-24 years of age
- In receipt of Universal Credit
- Working with a coach at their local Job Centre Plus
- At risk of long-term unemployment
At Futures, we’ll be offering Kickstart placements in a range of areas, including ICT, business administration, repairs and business transformation. Keep an eye on our social media channels for announcements about when applications are open!
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships have been around for a long time, but did you know there are hundreds of sectors offering opportunities to earn while you learn? Not just limited to young people, apprenticeships provide a valuable opportunity to work while gaining a qualification, enhancing skills, knowledge and providing experience all at the same time. Whether you’re looking to launch your career in customer services, or being an electrician has sparked your interest, there could be an apprenticeship out there for you. You can search for an apprenticeship here.
At Futures our apprentices have started careers in all different departments of the business. Our repairs apprentices are integrated into the team, keeping customers safe in their homes while learning the skills they need to qualify in their chosen area, while others have launched successful careers in our communications, home choices and neighbourhoods teams.
You can hear from some of our apprentices about their experiences in our coverage for National Apprenticeship Week by clicking here.
Employment advice at Futures
If you’re a Futures customer, no matter how old you are, our employment advice team are here to help. You can be at any stage of your employment journey to access their support, whether you need help with job applications or interviews, or are just looking for some advice to build your confidence and identify the right training to meet your goals.
Visit our employment advice website for more information about how we can help, or click below for guides designed to help you navigate the job market in this new increasingly virtual world. If you're working with a work coach at your local Job Centre Plus, you can also ask about our popular mentoring circles which have helped 27 participants and counting.
Click here for advice on application forms
Click here to read about writing a CV
Click here to find out about telephone and virtual interviews
Click here to learn about transferable skills
If you want to get in touch with the team please email employability@futureshg.co.uk or fill out the form on our website.
