10
May
2017
|
08:00
Europe/London

Free BT traineeships to help youngsters in North Yorkshire get ‘work ready’

Summary
BT is offering free traineeships to help young people in North Yorkshire get ‘work ready’ and prepared for their future careers.

BT is offering free traineeships to help young people in North Yorkshire get ‘work ready’ and prepared for their future careers.

The seven-week course, combining hands-on work experience with coaching and training, is open to anyone aged 16 to 24 not currently in education, employment or training.

Traineeships are a great opportunity for people who want to get a job or continue their education, but lack the necessary skills and experience to make it happen.

The next traineeship in North Yorkshire starts on May 16, 2017 and will be held at the BT distribution centre on Darlington Road. Northallerton. For more details or to apply visit http://www.btplc.com/Careercentre/WorkReady.

During the course, trainees will get hands on experience of the workplace with an opportunity to run a project from start to finish, working both individually and as part of a team.Trainees also learn practical and transferrable work skills such as CV writing, interview techniques and confidence building and can also gain a nationally recognised qualification in digital employability. They can even brush up on maths and English.

At the end of the course, trainees will leave with a career plan in place and receive ongoing help and support to complete the next steps towards employment or education.

Tom Keeney, chair of BT’s regional board in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “BT traineeships give local, young people the opportunity to experience the working day and gain invaluable insight of what is expected in the workplace.

“More than half of those who have completed previous traineeships have gone on to find employment or have returned to education. Some have found jobs within BT, but many have used their new skills and experience to find work in other businesses and industries, which is why traineeships are such a valuable asset.

“There will be more opportunities to join a BT traineeship in North Yorkshire so even if you can’t attend this particular course I’d encourage you to register your interest to ensure you don’t miss out.”

Two-week work placements, in a variety of roles across the UK, are also available for those unable to commit to a full seven week traineeship. Although a work placement does not carry a formal qualification, attendees are given a certificate showing their attendance and achievements to demonstrate their commitment to prospective employers.

Joshua-James Russell, now a warehouse operative at BT’s Northallerton distribution centre, is a former trainee. Twenty-two-year-old James, who lives in Romanby, said: “During my traineeship I covered various topics and completed exercises that helped me build my confidence and develop new skills. I worked on my CV, interviews skills and learnt how to present myself to potential employers. I worked really hard during the traineeship, taking on additional jobs and doing as much as I could to gain respect and get my foot in the door. I really wanted to make every second of the course count.

“As a result I went on to get this job and am now part of the test and refurbishment team working to refurbish and recycle broadband hubs. I would highly recommend the traineeship to anyone; it is a great experience and a great opportunity to get you into work.”

BT has been running the BT Traineeship since 2014 and to date more than 2,000 young people from around the UK have joined the programme.

The traineeship develops transferrable skills needed to find and start work, whether with BT or another company. After graduating from the programme, the young people get a minimum of 12 weeks support from BT to help them find a job or training.

The BT Traineeship is part of the BT Work Ready programme which is a series of initiatives provided to help young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, gain employment skills and get them ready for work. It’s part of BT’s commitment as a founding partner in the Movement to Work coalition of employers.**

Further information on BT’s Work Ready programme – www.bt.com/workready