Bid to create 100 roles for young people in 100 days
Campaign urges city firms to give youth a chance
A RALLYING cry has gone out for businesses to get on board and help create employment opportunities for 100 young people in 100 days.
The 100 in 100 campaign, which has been set up by Shaping Portsmouth in partnership with the Portsmouth education and business community, is designed to give young people a muchneeded boost.
The campaign, supported by The News, hopes to create a total of 100 roles in 100 days in the wake of shocking figures showing youth employment is at its lowest for five years.
Since January 2020, the number of people claiming Universal Credit in the city has risen from 4,350 to 10,140, a rise of 130 per cent year-on-year, with 1,871 young people in that number, a disproportionate 170 per cent rise.
Shaping Portsmouth’s chief executive officer Stef Nienaltowski said he hoped the 100 in 100 campaign would encourage businesses to see the benefits of bringing young people on board and inspire them to create opportunities, which in turn would boost the city.
He said: ‘For the first time in Shaping’s 11-year history we will be working with all four colleges on a city-wide programme. We hope to create 100 placements in 100 days and that would be lovely if that was across 100 businesses.
‘We are very excited about it as we have clearly been through a very tough year.
‘Young people have suffered more than most, especially in terms of employment.
‘The idea is to encourage our businesses to take on one young person, whether that’s a trainee, work experience, internship or Kickstarter, just to give the young adults in our city their first chance – for the good of everyone.
‘We really hope that by June 6 we are celebrating reaching the milestone.’
Stef said he had every faith that Portsmouth could hit the target, especially as it is such an entrepreneurial city.
He added: ‘Our current business performance has been nothing short of spectacular. As of December 2020, we have seen the net number of business in Portsmouth hit the 8,000 mark, which is up a net of 430 in 2020.
‘Portsmouth was also ranked as the UK’s most entrepreneurial city last year. I have every faith in our city.’
As well as supporting and promoting the value of hiring young people, Stef said that Shaping Portsmouth and its partners would be offering additional adult learning to the 100 people to upskill them to make them more attractive to their initial employer or a future opportunity.
For more go to shapingportsmouth.co.uk - or to register an interest, e-mail contactus@shapingportsmouth.co.uk. Alternatively go to solentapprenticeshiphub. com/