Howes Percival’s Andrew Barnes – a founding member of the ground-breaking Norwich for Jobs initiative – has welcomed the news that over 1,000 young people have been recruited to paid employment and apprenticeships as a result of the project.
The Norwich for Jobs project was established in January 2013 by Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, Andrew Barnes of Howes Percival, City College Norwich, Job Centre Plus and Archant. The aim was to halve Norwich youth unemployment in two years – from around 2,000 young people, aged 18-24, registered as unemployed in the Norwich area, down to 1,000.
The project has been successful in achieving its aim by encouraging local businesses to invest in young people, connecting young people with opportunities to gain skills and employment and focusing the collective efforts of the community to get young Norwich working.
Andrew Barnes, Senior Partner at Howes Percival in Norwich, Steering Group member for Norwich for Jobs and chair of its employer panel commented, “Helping young people get started with their career is vitally important and I’m absolutely delighted that so many local businesses have got behind the Norwich for Jobs project. Reaching the 1,000 jobs target well within two years is fantastic, however, the challenge of reducing youth unemployment continues. We believe strongly that now is not the time to let-up in any way – to the contrary, we want to redouble our efforts, and maintain the momentum. I would encourage local employers to join the campaign and find out how they can contribute to reducing youth unemployment and improving skills in the area”.
Progress To-Date
•1,085 Jobs and Apprenticeships Pledged
•370 Work Experience Placements have been pledged
•1,032 Total number of young people who have entered paid opportunities. – 900 young people have begun employment directly as a result of the project – 132 young people have begun apprenticeships directly as a result of the project
•172 young people have begun work experience placements directly as a result of the project
• 140 Employers are formally backing the campaign so far
• Dozens more have indicated their interest and are in discussion with the campaign
To learn more about the support they could give to young people, businesses interested in joining the campaign can visit www.NorwichForJobs.org.uk
