Join us to help blaze a trail for the workforce of the future

The Tees Valley is one of eight areas around the country chosen to run a Youth Guarantee Trailblazer – a Government-funded programme which is providing up to £5m to each area to help young people get into employment.

The programme will provide at least 64 high-quality paid work placements and 60 non-paid work taster sessions for young people in Hartlepool. Any young person aged 18-21 who lives in Hartlepool and is not currently in education, employment or training is eligible to apply.

With placements due to start in September, the call has gone out to young people to sign up and to local businesses to provide placement opportunities. The placements are fully funded, so there’s no financial cost to a business to take part.

The programme includes:

• Quick and flexible unpaid work taster sessions to allow young people to explore their job options.
• Structured, paid work placements for three or six months to gain the right experience and skills needed for job and training opportunities.
• A dedicated key worker providing pre-placement support and help to access education and training opportunities.
• Grants to help those on placement to buy IT equipment. Access to additional training and qualifications may also be available.

The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer will be managed and delivered by Hartlepool Borough Council, building on existing initiatives such as the highly successful Youth Hub run by the Council’s Hartlepool Jobs and Skills team, which has already helped 114 young people aged 18-24 to progress into employment in the last 12 months.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves (right) with (from left) Lynette Stokes, Manager of Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre – one of the businesses that has already signed up to take part in the programme – and Jack Mullinger and Finley Hammond - two of the young people who have signed up for the programme

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Chair of the Council’s Economic Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: “We’re determined to make sure Hartlepool’s young people don’t just watch the town’s £150 million transformation, they lead it.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to be one of just eight areas chosen to launch this exciting new programme, aimed at helping young people who aren’t in education, employment or training to gain real skills, real experience and real confidence to build their own future.

“This is a golden opportunity and I urge our young people to grab it with both hands. I also call on our brilliant local businesses to get involved by offering placements and shaping tomorrow’s workforce.

“This isn’t just an investment in our young people, this is an investment in the future of Hartlepool’s economy with no cost to businesses but a huge return in skilled, motivated young talent to drive businesses forward.”

Young people can find out more about the programme from Hartlepool Jobs & Skills on 01429 868616 or email youthhub@hartlepool.gov.uk or by dropping in to any of the town’s Community Hubs.

Businesses interested in providing a placement should call the Council’s Economic Growth Team on 01429 867677 or email business.support@hartlepool.gov.uk.