100 in 100 campaign: First Kickstart placement welcomed to a company that wants to make Portsmouth the UK's best city

A NOT-FOR-PROFIT company whose vision is to make Portsmouth the UK's best city in which to invest, live, learn, work and to visit has taken on its first Kickstart placement.
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Shaping Portsmouth welcomed Jess Shergold, 20, from Horndean, earlier this month.

She joined the Shaping Portsmouth team in the role of digital marketing assistant, supporting with news on the Shaping website and helping to manage its social media channels.

The organisation has spoken about its success, as Jess settles into her new role, to promote the 100 in 100 campaign, which aims to create 100 placements for young people in 100 days.

Jess Shergold, 20, from Horndean, has joined the Shaping Portsmouth teamJess Shergold, 20, from Horndean, has joined the Shaping Portsmouth team
Jess Shergold, 20, from Horndean, has joined the Shaping Portsmouth team

Jess has previously completed a BTEC in Health and Social Care before going on to customer service roles, including a trainee dispenser at a pharmacy, but wanted to move into a more creative career.

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She now hopes to build on marketing skills learned through her customer service roles and through supporting friends and family with promoting their ventures.

And she said she hopes that Shaping Portsmouth will help her pursue this career successfully, while also giving her the chance to help the community around her.

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Jess bagged her role through the Kickstart scheme, a government incentive that helps 16-24 year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit land employed roles.

It gives grants to the businesses to help part-fund the place, while also helping secure the young person that vital first step into a new career.

As part of the government’s focus on driving down unemployment rates, it has also recruited hundreds of job coaches to help people on Universal Credit to navigate the tricky world of job-searching.

Jess said: ‘The Kickstart process was so easy!

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‘I was suggested to try the Kickstart programme by my job coach, to help me find a different career.

‘She sent me the job referral, then I applied straight away, and here we are.

‘My job coach was wonderful. She helped me find a job in a career that I wanted to pursue and now love.

Stef Nienaltowski from Shaping Portsmouth 
Picture: Habibur RahmanStef Nienaltowski from Shaping Portsmouth 
Picture: Habibur Rahman
Stef Nienaltowski from Shaping Portsmouth Picture: Habibur Rahman

‘Starting at Shaping Portsmouth on April 7 was such a significant career change for me. Two weeks in and I already feel part of the Shaping family.

‘Now I have such a great understanding of all of the work that goes into helping Portsmouth become a great place to live, from our businesses to our communities.'

Shaping Portsmouth has a second Kickstarter scheme placement for a business and admin support assistant still open, working with the CEO and the head of programmes and events to support the day-to-day running of the organisation.

If you are aged between 16 and 24, claiming some form of Universal Credit and are interested in the role, please apply via your job coach.

Roll of honour

We're off to a great start with our 100 in 100 campaign – eight weeks after it was launched, 28 employers in the Portsmouth area have already committed to taking on a total of 41 young people. Could you join them? For more information, go to shapingportsmouth.co.uk or to register an interest, e-mail [email protected]

Here's our roll of honour so far:

Really B2B - marketing agency based at Lakeside, North Harbour

Portsmouth Diocese - Church of England area covering 139 parishes

STS Defence - technology and engineering business based in Gosport

Eaton Aerospace - aerospace company based in Bedhampton

Transalis - business solutions company based in Portsmouth

Portsmouth Water - utility company responsible for water supply and distribution

Morris Crocker - chartered accountants based in Havant

Highbury College - further education college in Cosham

Tax Assist - accountancy firm in Portsmouth

Yellow Strawberry - hairdressing salon in Hayling Island

*Apprenticeships via training provider Highbury College

South Western Railway – train operating company that runs services in south west London and southern counties of England and on the Isle of Wight

Aspire Bookkeeping - accountants in Fareham

Newgate Motor Services - a garage in Fareham

Intergrum Learning – IT consultants in Lee-on-the-Solent

Baker Newman - a building firm in Gosport

Jacobs Autos – a vehicle repair shop in Fareham

Solent Way Computers – a computer repair firm in Lee-on-the-Solent

British Heart Foundation – charity organisation

Arundel Aviaries - a pet shop in Portsmouth

CTECH Business Solutions – an IT firm in Lee-on-the-Solent

LW&T – an engineering business in Farlington

Fareham College IT Department

*Apprenticeships via training provider Fareham College

Puddleduck Day Nursery - children's nursery in Milton

The John Doyle Partnership – accountants in Southsea

Highfield Professional Solutions - employment agency in Durley

Activ8 Minds - after-school programme in Emsworth

*Apprenticeships via training provider Portsmouth College

Castle Pre-School, Cosham

Jackson and Green - accountants, business and tax advisers in Cosham

*Apprenticeships via training provider HSDC

For more information go to shapingportsmouth.co.uk - or to register an interest e-mail [email protected]

Alternatively go to solentapprenticeshiphub.com

Partners

Solent Apprenticeship Hub

Hub manager Jodi Fair said: ‘We are thrilled to be playing a part in 100 in 100 and have confidence that this will be beneficial, not only to the individuals who are beginning their career journeys, but also the employers that will be introducing new, skilled employees into their workforce.’

Portsmouth City Council

Cabinet member for culture, leisure and economic development and deputy leader Steve Pitt said: ‘The 100 in 100 campaign is a great opportunity to celebrate the important work that is undertaken across the city and the positive steps it takes towards recovery. Collaboration between our incredible businesses and the skills providers who support them is a powerful tool for growth. As a council we are committed to raising aspirations and skills development. That's why we're supporting this campaign, the business growth and the entrepreneurial spirit Portsmouth is known for.’

Fareham College

College principal and CEO Andrew Kaye said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting this initiative encouraging employers to offer new and existing staff and young adults the opportunity to take their first step on to the career ladder, or progress further in their chosen career. Fareham College’s focus has always been to equip its learners with the knowledge, skills and experience to achieve their ambitions and we look forward to enabling as many people as possible to gain valuable industry experience to set them on the path of their chosen career, as well as aiding the local economy and assisting business recovery in the region.’

Highbury College, Portsmouth

Craig Mincher, commercial director, said: 'The 100 in 100 campaign comes at a crucial time for both individuals and businesses in Portsmouth. Highbury College are proud to play a part in a campaign that will offer such hope and tangible outcomes for both local employers and adults of the city.'

Havant and Southdowns College

Director for business growth and innovation Aaron Butson said: ‘Everything we do at HSDC is to realise the ambitions of our community and we fully support Shaping Portsmouth and partners in the 100 in 100 campaign. With everyone working together to realise this ambition, we will all have a tremendous impact supporting young people into work and supporting others in our community regain employment and upskilling opportunities.'

Portsmouth College

Vice principal Tom Lloyd said: ‘Portsmouth College is delighted to be able to play a role in the 100 in 100 campaign. Collaboration is critical during a crisis and this project is a fantastic example of employers, training providers and agencies from across the city coming together to promote opportunities and support local people back into employment.’

University of Portsmouth

Claire Middleton, degree apprenticeship manager, said: ‘100 in 100 is a great opportunity to highlight all the wonderful new apprentices and employers that we have in the city and to show the commitment they are making in the road to recovery post-Covid. Collaborating with partners is the best way to raise awareness of apprenticeships at all levels and show the diversity of courses, employers and apprentices that are available in our community.'

Shaping Portsmouth

Chief executive officer Stef Nienaltowski said: ‘Two years ago, we launched our Roadmap to a Career vision and this programme is yet another key part of that. No matter what your age, your career options should not be a hidden secret but something you can get access to and experience readily. This programme aims to give our people that opportunity and, whilst some of the placements are age-limited, some are not. Opportunity is for everyone and Shaping and our partners aim to make that happen with this and following programmes.'

Placement types

Apprenticeships – combine practical training in a job with study. As an apprentice you'll be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay. Work alongside experienced staff and gain job-specific skills.

Traineeships – a course with work experience that gets you ready for work or an apprenticeship. It can last from six weeks up to one year, though most traineeships last for less than six months. You can apply if you're eligible to work in England, unemployed and have little or no work experience.

T-level paid placements – new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A-levels. These two-year courses, which launched in September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study. T-levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and 'on-the-job' experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days).

Internships – a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment. Can be paid or unpaid.

Work experience (fewer than 70 hours) – enables young, unemployed people to volunteer for placements lasting between two and eight weeks.

Kickstarters – the government's Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

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