As posted on various newspaper websites in the Hampshire area:
A specialist exhaust business in Portsmouth has stood up and been counted as one of the first in the UK to join forces with a national training organisation which has committed to creating 2012 new jobs for young people in 2012.
European Exhaust & Catalyst Limited (EEC), based in Portsmouth, has signed up to Aspire Achieve Advance Group Limited’s (3AAA) 2012|2012 challenge. 3AAA runs the National IT Partnership (NITP) academy at Highbury College in Portsmouth. Eighteen year old Tim Green from Portsmouth has been employed by EEC as an NITP apprentice, working at the company whilst studying at Highbury College.
Paul Clark, Managing Director, European Exhaust & Catalyst Limited, says: “We are committed to developing the skills of our staff and are delighted to have the opportunity to take on a new employee through the apprenticeship scheme. Young people need all the help they can get in these challenging times and organisations such as 3AAA are taking the lead. It is up to companies like ours to provide the opportunities for young people to gain real skills and make a valuable contribution to the wide economy.”
Di McEvoy-Robinson, Director, 3AAA, said: “With the government’s announcement that the unemployment rate in the 16-24 year-old age group is running at a record high of 22.3%, it’s essential that organisations such as ours step up and take responsibility for creating new jobs for young people.
“We are combining our experience and expertise in delivering high quality Apprenticeships, with our skills in sourcing capable young people to meet the recruitment requirements of our employer partners. We are creating completely new jobs that give young people a real future and employers a competent new member of their workforce equipped with up-to-date skills for the job.
“This is also our call to employers across the UK to help us realise our commitment of creating 2012 jobs in 2012 to make a real difference to the lives of young people all over the country.”
NITP academies provide apprentices with industry recognised IT qualifications, underpinned with the practical and valuable experience secured via employment as an apprentice.
3AAA’s 2012|2012 pledge kicks off with a series of employer events in Portsmouth designed to get local businesses to commit to creating new jobs for local school leavers. 3AAA’s campaign will run throughout 2012. Each region will be in competition to create the highest number of new jobs, with the top achieving region to be recognised at an awards celebration at the end of the year.
3AAA works in partnership with local colleges across the UK to deliver local solutions for young people, employers and adults learning in the workplace. NITP academies are located in Walsall, Tamworth, Bedford, Letchworth, St Albans, Enfield, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Birmingham.
