We will be supporting 50 young people into paid work experience as part of the government’s £2bn Kickstart scheme.

We will be providing six months paid work experience positions for people aged up to 24 in roles across our Community Investment, Estate Ranger and Grounds Maintenance teams, as well as with our repairs contractors, Mears Group.

The roles will offer paid employment, along with training and support, and will prepare the young people for entering the world of work. Training will include role specific coaching, along with literacy, numeracy, and IT skills. Plus, participants will benefit from the CKH Careers Club, which gives people the skills they need to apply for work and succeed in interviews. Participants will also receive support with any transport costs involved with getting to work.

We are now working with JobCentrePlus Peterborough to identify qualifying young people and it is hoped the first cohort will start work in March.

Our Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said of the project: “I am thrilled that CKH is leading the way regionally on this government initiative. We know that young people have found the last year incredibly difficult, especially those who are trying to get into work. To be able to offer them an opportunity like this, to get work experience and training, while being paid, is just brilliant.

“As an organisation we have supported young people into work through our pre-apprentice and apprenticeship schemes for many years and are well placed to know what additional support young people who are so new to the employment market need in order to thrive. We also have the added benefit of our own in-house trainers and a wealth of knowledge in supporting people into jobs, thanks to our long-term community investment work. I can’t wait to personally welcome these young people when they join us in March.”