Enfield councillor Martin Precsott has taken on the challenge of getting 1,000 young people into work. He set staff the Enfield 1,000 Challenge in a bid to encourage businesses to take on apprentices and encourage young people and school leavers to take opportunities available to them.
The Winchmore Hill councillor is using HT Group in Southgate to help get young people into work.
He said: “There is a general view, if you read the Daily Mail or the Daily Mirror that there are no jobs out there – it’s rubbish. There are lots of jobs and lots of opportunities, but we can’t find the people to take the first step and pick up the phone. What we are creating are not dud jobs, it is the first step on the ladder, and if a candidate takes up the opportunity then they will go far.”
Members of the councillor’s staff are talking to local businesses in Enfield in the hope that they can encourage them to create an apprenticeship for a young person looking for work.
Dee Ellison is spearheading the campaign and has already helped create 28 apprenticeships but is so far struggling to find young people to apply for them.
Dee said: “Fundamentally, we are taking 1,000 unemployed people off the streets and giving small businesses in the borough the chance to grow their own company. We are really trying to counter the impression that there are no jobs.”
If you want some more information about the apprenticeships and the Enfield 1,000 Challenge call 0844 888 7640 or email 1000c@ht-group.org.