Future Jobs Fund reaches a century
Warwickshire County Council’s Future Jobs Fund programme is celebrating a milestone after successfully securing employment for its 100 person.
Among the range of vacancies that have been filled include posts for youth workers, clerical assistants, trainee sports coaches, marketing and fundraising assistants, maintenance workers and gardeners, outreach assistants and arts technicians.
A total of 47 of these jobs have been created in Leamington and Warwick, 22 in Nuneaton and Bedworth, 14 in North Warwickshire, 10 in Rugby and seven in Stratford.
The Future Jobs Fund is part of the national initiative called the Young Person’s Guarantee which provides all people aged 18-24 that have been unemployed for six months with a guaranteed job or training.
The Government-funded scheme has now achieved the 100 jobs mark in Warwickshire and the contract has been extended to secure 180 jobs by March next year, when the existing fund closes.
Cllr Helen Walton, Warwickshire County Council’s Acting Portfolio Holder for Economy and Housing, said: “Our success with the Future Jobs Fund is testament to the good partnership working across the county through community groups, voluntary, other public and private sector organisations all pulling together.
“It is pleasing that we have been able to help 100 young adults into jobs and onto the career ladder.
“This scheme has provided a strong foundation which we hope we can build on when the Government announces its plans for a new job creation programme.”
The Future Jobs Fund pays for the costs of the employee provided that the job is for 25 hours per week and lasts for six months.
Warwickshire is one of 318 approved organisations nationwide to deliver the scheme. Its partners in the fund include the district and borough councils, charities, PCTs and the voluntary and public sectors.
Case study – Chris Erskine
Chris, aged 24, successfully gained employment on a modern apprenticeship programme after leaving school. This resulted in Chris achieving his NVQ Level 2 in Carpentry and employed for seven years by a local builder. However, the impact of the economic climate on the building industry resulted in Chris being made redundant. While unemployed, Chris wrote over 50 speculative letters to companies enquiring about employment but to no avail.
Thanks to Warwickshire County Council and the Government’s Future Jobs Fund, Chris gained employment, for six months, at the Opportunities Centre in Nuneaton as a General Maintenance Person. He refreshed, learned and developed skills to equip him for future employment options.
Following this successful placement, Chris has now become self-employed.