Sphere
#37
2015
25
>>
“This programme has
demonstrated the value of
giving young people with
the right attitude and aptitude
a chance.”
Celina Benedict,
3
UK’s Corporate Responsibility Manager
drift can assail those who don’t leave
school with the drive, direction and skills
needed to succeed in the next stage
of life. In the UK, there are 737,000
young people aged 16 to 24 who are
unemployed (September 2014 figures).
The unemployment rate of this age group
is a staggering 16.2 per cent. However,
with the help of HWL, some of these
young people have found a way to enter
the workforce.
Since 2013,
3
UK has been working closely
with Tomorrow’s People, an employment
charity that helps disadvantaged
young people to get and keep jobs.
The two organisations collaborate in a
work placement programme targeting
unemployed youth. The programme
includes mentoring sessions with
3
UK’s
London store managers that enable
participants to develop the skills and
experience they need to find work. Many
are offered permanent retail positions in
3
UK stores at the end of the programme.
“Young people told me that they found
their life very dull before participating in
our Tomorrow’s People programme,” says
3
UK’s Tomorrow’s People Programme
Executive Claire Garner. “They said that
they did not have a routine and that being
unemployed caused them to have low self-
esteem. They also explained that they felt
as though they were not getting much help
from the job centre and that not being able
to find employment opportunities was
immensely frustrating.”
Real opportunities
Participants of Tomorrow’s People
receive general training on the working
environment and attend workshops aimed
at building confidence and improving their
presentation and communication skills.
There is also a session at
3
UK’s Discovery
area in Maidenhead, where participants
are trained on mobile technology and
money management. The young people
then take part in
3
UK’s induction session
and the “Experience Three” course that
all retail staff attend before spending two
weeks working in one of
3
UK’s stores in
London. At the end of the programme,
participants are interviewed for a full-time
retail position with
3
UK.
Over 100 participants have joined
the programme since 2013, and 45
graduates have found employment in
3
UK’s retail team. The numbers will
undoubtedly grow as
3
UK expands
the programme.
Tomorrow’s People succeed
today with
3
UK in their corner.
