Business group and council in job scheme

The Arun Business Partnership and Arun District Council have set up a partnership agreement with Jobcentre Plus, matching up unemployed residents with local firms for placements.

The partners are describing the initiative as ‘win-win’, benefiting individuals but also the business owners and in turn, the local economy.

Council leader Gillian Brown said: “Giving local young people a chance to find their way into work is a wholly rewarding experience for all involved.

“Arun District Council is proud to be part of this scheme, and has enhanced their workforce as a result.

“By providing opportunities for young people to experience working life first-hand, we are helping them to become better equipped to offer potential employers a wider range of skills while increasing their confidence and self-belief.”

The Jobcentre works with local businesses, enabling young, unemployed people to secure a placement in a business to gain valuable work experience.

A council spokesman said: “At the end of the placement, the young people are often equipped with the skills and confidence that makes a real difference to their prospects of finding permanent employment.

“In some cases, the young people that have taken part in this voluntary scheme, have made such a positive impact, they have been offered a job in the company where they have done their period of voluntary work experience.”

The Arun Business Partnership was set up 20 years ago and provides support to local businesses of all sizes.

Part of that support is to encourage them to engage in the work experience scheme, creating opportunities to develop their business and to benefit from the skills that so many of our local young people have to offer.

For more information about the work experience opportunities available, contact Miriam Nicholls at Arun District Council on 01903 737845.