999 service work boost for young
YOUNG people on Universal Credit are being given a helping hand to get into the world of work by the ambulance service that covers Burton.
West Midlands Ambulance Service is joining the Kickstart School, which is a Government initiative that provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16- to 24-year-olds who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
The service has created 30 kickstart job placements across the West Midlands where the new recruits will be working as vehicle preparation assistants.
This will see successful applicants work on ambulance hubs providing additional support to the established “Make Ready” teams to ensure frontline ambulances are clean, in good working order and stocked ready to respond to the next 999 call.
Each job placement is for 25 hours a week for a six-month period, applicants will not be able to drive trust vehicles and those aged 16 or 17 will not be able to work night shifts.
Carla Beechey, head of HR at the service, said: “We are very proud to have been granted the funding to be part of this fantastic initiative which will provide young people in the local area to our hubs, who are struggling to get a job, with a fantastic opportunity to get on the career ladder.
“This is an exciting and very rewarding opportunity to work for an outstanding ambulance service during a time of national emergency which will give applicants a wealth of experience and exposure to new skills.”
Anyone interested in applying for one of the placements should speak to their Department of Work and Pensions adviser to find out more about the initiative.
But they’ll have to get a move on as the closing date for applications is Monday.