Welcoming today’s announcement of a £126m scheme targeted at 55,000 teenagers who fall into this category, the CIPD highlighted the fact that this group are likely to fall into unemployment even in better economic times – and pointed to research showing that early contact with employers has a significant beneficial impact on future employment prospects.

Katerina Rüdiger, skills policy adviser at the CIPD, said: “The CIPD has consistently warned that overplayed ‘lost generation’ rhetoric around youth unemployment risks diverting attention away from the persistent and serious structural element of youth unemployment – affecting around 10% of young people in good economic times and bad.  In that context, we welcome today’s announcement of a scheme specifically targeted at the most difficult-to-reach groups with the poorest qualifications.

“Well before the recession hit, the CIPD was finding a marked preference amongst employers to recruit people with more experience, even to entry level jobs – to the detriment of young school leavers.  However, we’ve also seen, through initiatives we’re running to give young people access to voluntary guidance and mentoring from our members, that young people can quickly have their confidence and ability to impress employers boosted sufficiently to find work.  We also know that employers who do hire young school leavers have far more positive views of the potential of younger employees than those who do not.

“If we can break the cycle of no experience, no job, there is a real opportunity to boost employer perceptions of young people, and spare the economy the negative consequences of a significant minority of young people who grow up with little experience of work.  Research shows that the more contact young people have with employers, the better their chances of finding themselves in stable employment.  Targeting employability support at people who’d likely struggle to find work even in times of stronger economic performance is the right approach.  Those with very low qualifications and no experience of the workplace are the ones genuinely most at risk of the scarring effect of youth unemployment.  The earlier government and employers working together can get to these people and give them genuine support and experience of the workplace, the better.  The enduring challenge, of course, is creating the economic performance necessary to create more jobs for all categories amongst the growing ranks of the unemployed.”

As part of the launch, BGL will employ six people in their new Microsoft .Net IT Academy, which will involve successful applicants spending 12 weeks in classroom-based training, before formally beginning their new roles as Trainee Web Developers.

More than 360 people work in IT across the BGL Group, and the new recruits will be involved in building and developing web applications on behalf of a number of leading household name insurance brands. Other recent BGL IT Academy schemes have successfully trained 21 people in other technologies, including Microsoft SharePoint and IBM System i programming, which are also used by BGL in the development of a wide range of IT solutions to meet constantly growing business requirements.

Ian Leech, chief financial officer of the BGL Group said, “IT delivers real business advantage through innovative services and solutions and is pivotal to the ongoing success of the BGL Group. Continued investment in initiatives such as the new .Net IT Academy will help position us for future growth. Skills in .Net are in great demand within the company – with all of our websites and customer journeys moving to .Net platforms – so to have in-house, highly trained employees in this area is becoming increasingly important.”

Jo Addington, senior HR manager, said, “The IT Academy is a unique opportunity for people with a passion for a career in IT who are either just starting out or are looking for a completely new career path. Previous IT experience is not necessarily required, however successful trainees will have a natural aptitude for logical thinking as well as a keen desire to work towards a career in IT. Working in IT can be extremely rewarding but does involve a commitment to life long learning – with technology constantly evolving.”

The qualification is an ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) Level 3 Award in coaching for team leaders/supervisors and potential leaders in the fresh food sector. The course will be delivered in May 2011 in Lincolnshire.

Charlotte Wolfe (left), a leading UK coach and coaching teacher who will lead the course, said, “The qualification will help individuals and organisations develop their management styles away from a dictatorial management style to a more coaching and mentoring approach.”

For more information see the attached flyer by right-clicking the link below.

GrowYourOwnCoach – food sector

His articles will provide readers with useful advice and information about staff training and HR matters.

Mr Martin is owner and MD of Toojays Training & HR Consultancy Ltd was established in 2003 by owner and MD Lee Martin. Based in Peterborough, the company delivers leadership, management and team development solutions to a range of international clients.

Click to download CV and Interview course info

Click to download the Building Relationships course info

You can read Lee Martin’s first advice column on the value of customer service here.

Download coaching programme flyer from this link

Keith Nelson, managing director at Your Total Coach, (left) told Peterboroughbusiness.co.uk, “Organisations that use coaching as an effective tool and strategy build high performance teams and achieve better results.”

Mr Nelson said that when taking coaching into your business, you should consider the three stage benefits of increased skills and productivity:

1. Short term: performance enhancement
2. Medium term: job development and skills enhancement
3. Longer term: career management, succession planning, professional growth

“Coaching is the single most effective tool for raising performance,” said Mr Nelson. “There is clear evidence of raised performance and efficiencies, higher morale and loyalty, empowered teams taking on more responsibility and a better motivated and committed workforce.”

The Your Total Coach Advanced Coaching Programme starts on April 19 and 20 and leads to a nationally recognised qualification.  

To find out more about the Advanced Coaching Programme leading to the ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring, please contact Your Total Coach on 01733 314012 or email info@yourtotalcoach.co.uk.

Download coaching programme flyer from this link

The team of 11 advisers are highly experienced; each have run their own business, been in the driving seat operating businesses for others, or in senior positions with major commercial operations. Specialisms within the business advice team include sales; marketing, including social media; technology; operations; financial and business planning; product development; HR and training.

Malcolm Williamson, head of information & intelligence at Business Link said: “Availability of time is a constant challenge when running a business, and we know that owners and managers of small businesses don’t just need access to advice during a normal working day. That’s why we’ve launched this dedicated, extended advice service; those holding the reins of small business can now also engage with an experienced adviser outside of normal business hours, as well as on a Saturday.

“We know that businesses that seek our help have a 20% higher survival rate than those that don’t. When one-to-one advice is sought with one of our advisers, that survival rate increases an additional 12%. Simply put, businesses that receive advice from a Business Link adviser do better, which is why we’ve enhanced our service to meet the needs of Cambridgeshire small businesses.”

To make an appointment with a Business Link adviser call 08457 17 16 15 between Monday and Friday, 9am to 5pm, or via email to info@businesslinkeast.org.uk. advisers are available by appointment Monday to Friday, 08.30am to 7.30pm and Saturdays 10am to 4pm.

Click image for full size.

STAFF from Peterborough-based contact centre company Fusion have successfully completed the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 5 qualification. The nationally recognised, degree-level business programme, culminated with a graduation ceremony at Peterborough Cathedral, attended by 11 of the 13 staff who completed the course (pictured left).

In conjunction with Peterborough Regional College, Fusion has been offering the ILM qualification for three years and so far more than 100 employees have completed the course. The programme covers topics such as Communication in Management, Becoming an Effective Leader, and Leading Innovation and Change.

David Thompson, managing director of Fusion Support Functions, said, “We know that people are the company’s best asset, and so we offer this course with the ILM and Peterborough Regional College to help our existing and aspiring managers reach the next level in their careers. Fusion’s ILM candidates go through a rigorous application process that includes recommendation from their managers. This is the first time that we have been invited to attend an official graduation ceremony for the course. It’s a huge reward for all involved in delivering and completing the programme.”

Ian Stavers, contact centre manager and graduate from the ILM course, said, “I began my career with Fusion as a telephone agent and soon recognised the huge number of opportunities available to me within Fusion. The course modules covered a variety of helpful, real-life working day scenarios that have made a real difference to my day-to-day activity. The fact that I have been able to complete such a highly recognised business qualification within my current role will help to not only boost my development now but also assist me in progressing to the next stage of my career within the company.”

Mr Chambers joined Stephenson Smart & Co in 2006 as a BSc Accounting graduate from the University of Hull. He achieved the AAT qualification in the first year of training and now looks forward to working towards his auditing qualification with the firm.

Mr Chambers said, “Everyone at the firm is involved in most areas of accountancy and this gives us a broad range of knowledge across the spectrum of accountancy. Stephenson Smart has been an excellent firm to train and study with, giving the support and being generous with the time students need for college and study.

The firm continues to build on its training recruitment programme, attracting a high calibre of applications for trainee posts resulting in the recent appointment of two further trainees. Daniel Pinfold of South Bretton, Peterborough and Liam Bellars of March both joined the firm in September this year.

Mr Pinfold left Jack Hunt School in Peterborough with A levels and graduated from Leeds University with an accounting and finance BSc degree in July 2010. His career with Stephenson Smart & Co includes working towards his ACA qualification.

Mr Bellars, a former student at Kings School in Peterborough and qualified in accounting and finance from Leicester Business School said, “I’m excited about working with local businesses in the same community I grew up in, as well as eager to gain my professional recognition as a chartered accountant.”

Stephenson Smart is authorised as a training office for ICAEW and ACCA accountancy and tax qualifications and normally recruits two or three trainees each year. The firm is always looking for new employees who can bring relevant skills to their organisation.

Paul Evans, a senior partner, said, “We have always found Peterborough to be a good source of talented and skilled individuals who have ambitions to work their way up through our organisation. We are extremely proud of our trainees and the fact that they stay with us after they have qualified.”

For more information visit www.stephensonsmart.com.