The momentum that the city’s businesses have created by giving more than 100 young adults their first steps on their roadmap to a career will not be given up when the current 100 in 100 campaign ends on Tuesday, June 8, according to the not-for-profit organisation.
It said the partnership created by the four travel-to-learn colleges - HSDC, Portsmouth Highbury and Fareham - plus Portsmouth City Council, Solent Apprenticeship Hub and Shaping Portsmouth, will remain in place and move into the next phase of its ambitious plan to make Portsmouth the beacon city for traineeships.
Jess Shergold started a Kickstarter placement at Shaping Portsmouth
Stef Nienaltowski CEO of Shaping Portsmouth, said the value already seen from those businesses that have taken a young person is evident.
The feedback has been significantly positive and the young adults themselves are gaining a massive amount out of their placement.
Young people such as Jess Shergold, who has taken up a role at Shaping Portsmouth, and Olivia Ralph, who has taken up a place at Pompey in the Community, have said they have been given a great boost by securing work.
The fact that there is a real balance between the Kickstarters, apprentices and traineeship placements means that beyond the government support under the Kickstart programme, businesses themselves are funding a large percentage of these new roles.
Chief executive of Shaping Portsmouth Stef Nienaltowski
The commitment from all the partners to continue the campaign and the investment already shown by Portsmouth businesses is a clear sign of optimism for the future.
Shaping and all its partners will announce the next phase of this programme within the next two weeks so there is no pause in the activity and success of this programme.
Stef added: ‘Whilst we are all delighted with the initial success of the campaign, we want to build on this and make it something long-lasting and rewarding for both the businesses and those young adults involved.
Olivia Ralph, who is on a placement at Pompey in the Community through the government Kickstart scheme
‘To convert a large number of these placements into permanent jobs is one of the key objectives we, as a partnership, will have in the next phase of this programme.’
The 100 in 100 campaign was launched in February with the aim of securing 100 opportunities for young people in Portsmouth within 100 days.
Nine weeks after it was launched, it has smashed through that target with an incredible 104 places found. It now aims to reach 250 placements.
Could you join the companies that have already signed up? 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
Bluebird Care - a care agency
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
Portsmouth City Council - local authority
Perfect Skin Solutions
*Apprenticeships via training provider Portsmouth College
Castle Pre-School, Cosham
Jackson and Green - accountants, business and tax advisers in Cosham
Leon’s Bistro
Astute Technical Recruitment
*Apprenticeships via training provider HSDC
Stellas Voice - a charity
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.
