THE Prince’s Trust’s Get Into Retail programme has secured employment for 11 young people thanks to a joint programme with a high street retailer.
Fully funded and supported by TK Maxx this four week project, delivered in partnership with People 1st, has been specifically tailored to give unemployed 16-to-25-year-olds the confidence, skills and training to embark on a career within the retail industry.
Fourteen unemployed young people graduated recently from the programme with 11 of them securing jobs following nine days work experience with TK Maxx.
Young people on the programme gained accredited qualifications such as Basic First Aid and EDI Level 1 Award in Retail Knowledge as well as valuable practical experience.
Robert McVeigh from Belfast said: “I really enjoyed the Get into Retail with TK Maxx programme as it gave me the opportunity to gain relevant qualifications and work experience in the retail sector. The initial training at People 1st was fantastic and I was able to apply what I learnt there when I was on work placement at TK Maxx’s Boucher Road store.
“TK Maxx are a great company to work for and everybody there was really friendly and helpful. The programme has really helped me as I have now secured a position for Christmas at TK Maxx. I would recommend the programme to anyone.”
Presenting the graduates with their certificates, Ian Jeffers, director of The Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland, said: “It is so rewarding to sense such a positive attitude from all of our graduates. Rather than the apathy and helplessness that so many young unemployed could feel, there is a real ‘can do’ approach among everyone today, graduates and employers alike.
“With current levels of unemployment among young people at a record high in Northern Ireland, it is invaluable to have companies such as TK Maxx helping The Prince’s Trust address this problem by offering training and ultimately jobs through programmes such as this.”
The Prince’s Trust runs a series of Get Into programmes over a variety of sectors such as food processing, cooking, youth work, social care and hospitality and catering. Aimed at young people aged 16 to 25, the programmes provide recognised qualifications and practical experience as well as the opportunity to meet and impress potential employers.