Retailer’s scheme for young jobless expands
A programme used by The Warehouse to get young people into employment is being rolled out to other employers.
The retailer’s Red Shirts in the Community programme is being expanded through Accelerator, a digital learning programme built by the Ministry of Social Development, The Warehouse and Youth Hub.
Accelerator is expected to be the country’s largest public-private partnership in the area of social inclusion and youth development.
About 1200 young people are expected to complete its pilot scheme this year, starting in May.
The Warehouse chief executive Pejman Okhovat said that since the Red Shirts scheme started three years ago, about 1100 young people who were not in employment, education or training had passed through its doors.
Participants spent three weeks in a The Warehouse store, receiving training in customer service, communication skills, personal presentation, stock management and basic health and safety.
They also learnt about how to prepare for an interview, apply for a job, prepare a CV and look for work, with three months of follow-up pastoral care from a mentor.
The programme provides credits towards NCEA Levels 1 and 2.
In the last pilot, The Warehouse says 70 per cent of the graduates found work.
Based on that level of success, Accelerator hopes about 700 of the young people signed up this year will find a job and it’s looking for nine other industry partners to help. Okhovat urged other industries to get involved.
Accelerator will recruit participants via Youth Hub, a social platform where young people can connect with prospective employers and others, and upload their CVS.
Youth Hub founder Senthil Perumal said Accelerator was not only about getting work experience but also addressing the young person’s overall situation.
‘‘It puts them into an eco-system where youth services, organisation and educators, everyone is there . . . When they get out of the programme they can just continue that journey and upskilling themselves.’’