Young job seekers given helping hand at recruitment event

More than 150 young people have been given a helping hand into work, following a successful Kickstart Your Future event at Chichester College.

The college, working in partnership with the Department for Work & Pensions, held a Kickstart recruitment event earlier this month, bringing together job seekers and employers to help young people find job placements.

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create jobs for out-of-work 16 to 24-year-olds, subsidising a six-month work placement for 25 hours a week.

The Chichester College Group (CCG) acts as an intermediary ‘Gateway’ to help smaller, local employers access the Kickstart schemes – and also directly employs six young people on Kickstart placements with vacancies for 14 more.

Paul Rolfe, Director of Commercial, Sales and Marketing at the Chichester College Group, added: “We were very proud to be able to host such a successful event. There was a real buzz in the room, with employers working with young people to help them find their way into work.

“The Kickstart scheme is a really important initiative that will not only help industries to rebuild, but will help young people into employment.

“During their six month placement, young people will gain valuable knowledge and work experience and it’s our hope that will help them to progress into full-time employment or onto an apprenticeship.”