Boston Jobcentre looks to team up with employers and organisations to help young people find work
Boston Jobcentre is inviting employers and organisations to help young people into employment by providing such opportunities as work experience.
Work Experience organised by Jobcentre Plus is open to young people aged 18-24 and people aged 25 and over who do not have recent work history, Stuart Roberts, an employer advisor at Boston Jobcentre, explained.
“For some young people, a lack of understanding or experience of the workplace is a significant barrier to finding employment,” he said.
Work Experience through Jobcentre Plus enables unemployed people to volunteer for placements lasting between two and eight weeks, he said.
Participants can be selected with the help of an employer adviser. Jobcentre Plus continues to pay participants’ benefits and covers the costs of travel and childcare if necessary, Stuart added.
There is no direct cost to the host employer, he said. Jobcentre Plus agrees the duration of the placement with them and will ask them to provide a reference for the jobseeker at the end, he said.
“Work experience offers the placement provider the chance to tap into new talent, develop their own team, by providing mentoring opportunities for staff, as well as supporting your local community and growing your own brand,” he said.
There are other ways in which employers and organisations can help, though.
In spring, Jobcentre Plus hosted an event at the Tonic Health’s base in Pescod Hall.
David Powell and Stacey Hunter from the NHS Talent Academy – part of Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group – gave a talk to a group of young people about NHS recruitment.
“David provided a valuable insight into the entire recruitment process, from the initial application, the key evidence statement that is crucial to all successful applications, through to the interview,” Stuart said. “He conducted some mock interviews to highlight the types of questions that may be asked, in particular the ‘STAR’ technique.”
David, who has supported Boston Jobcentre over the years with recruitment sessions and mentoring circles, said: “These, sessions are a great way to highlight the many careers available in the NHS, and in particular how our entry level roles are a great introduction to a career in the Health and Care Sector. The inclusivity of young people fits with the NHS 10 year plan on recruitment.”
Anyone interested in discussing work experience, or how Boston Jobcentre can assist with promoting their vacancies and assisting with recruitment, is asked to email the DWP Boston Jobcentre Youth Team on [email protected]