Joining forces to give local youngsters a job

Bury’s largest private sector employer is working with Bury Council to open up the workplace to seven more youngsters who have been struggling to find a job.

This is the second time that 02, supporting the Backing Young Bury project, has given new hope to local youngsters who are not in employment, education or training.

The BYB project is designed to make it as easy as possible for employers to recruit, support and develop a young person in their business. O2 has even developed its own tailor-made comprehensive two-week work experience programme for people aged 16-19.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, said: “We are delighted O2 is backing our campaign, helping to highlight the difficulty young people still face when starting their journey into employment. It gives them a fantastic opportunity to see what it’s like working for a worldwide organisation. Seven unemployed Bury residents will leave with a full understanding of what is expected of them in the world of work. This is an experience which I am sure will help them achieve employment in the future.”

Maureen Blood, operations manager and chair of 02 Think Big at Bury, said: “At O2, we’re committed to supporting young people by providing them with opportunities, skills and support that they need to get work.

“Work experience and Think Big Schools are just two examples of O2 Think Big, but any young person between the ages of 13 and 25 can get help to enable them to make a difference in their local community. They have access to cash, training and mentoring to make their ideas come alive.”

For more details, go to www.o2thinkbig.co.ukFurthermore, employers across Bury are being offered incentives above and beyond the national scheme to recruit apprentices.

The Bury ‘top-ups’ will be made available through the Greater Manchester Commitment, which aims to tackle youth unemployment across the region.

The scheme will support employers and young unemployed people across Greater Manchester and Bury employers are encouraged to play their part.

The UK wide offer is being delivered by NAS (National Apprenticeship Service) who will present 40,000 incentives of £1,500 per head to SME employers who choose to recruit apprentices aged 16-24.

Greater Manchester’s scheme will offer an additional £750 per head, payable directly to a limited number of employers who have signed up to the Greater Manchester Commitment by taking on an unemployed young person.

For more information email backingyoungbury@bury.gov.uk