Morrisons is pioneering a new programme in famous sporting venues around the UK to help young unemployed people get back into work. There are currently over a million young unemployed people and Our Club aims to employ the techniques used in sports coaching to help them with the skills and confidence they need to start building their future career.
The programme is being trialled next week at the Kia Oval cricket ground in south London, as well as at the Provident Stadium, the famous home of Bradford Bulls Rugby League Club.
The six-week course aims to give young people the belief they need to be successful in the world of work. This is done through a combination of sports based team work, as well as providing work skills training and job placement opportunities.
Nick Rowe, Academy and Talent Director at Morrisons said: “Too many young people are getting stuck in a cycle of unemployment without the experience and skills to take that first step on the work ladder. Sport is inspirational for many young people so by combining elements from sports coaching with work skills training, we can deliver a programme that does much more than just teach people how to write a CV.”
On successful completion, candidates are guaranteed an interview with one of the partner companies supporting the scheme in the local area. The aspiration is that new found confidence and skills will impress employers so much that opportunities for permanent employment are made available.
The training is being delivered by the Coaching Centre for Excellence (CCE) who worked closely with the Jobcentre Plus in Croydon to find the 30 young people to take part in the course. To be eligible, candidates had to be aged between 18 and 24 and have been out of work for at least five months at the start of the programme.
The CCE is also working with other companies in the local area to encourage them to support the initiative and offer placements to young people who have been long-term unemployed.
Christina Dennis, Chief Executive of the CCE, said, “Our Club is our opportunity to make a lasting difference to young people’s lives. We’ve had a fantastic start to the programme and we’d love to hear from any businesses in the South London area who’d like to get involved.”