Four young people are due to start with the business in the coming weeks as part of the new government Kickstart scheme aimed at addressing youth unemployment.
The Kickstart scheme is the latest initiative focused on getting young people into work and helping provide them with the skills needed to forge successful careers.
Ideal Standard is already working with the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) to play a leading role in the Kickstart scheme for our industry and to partner with other organisations with similar aspirations.
So far, we have identified the opportunity to support four placements starting in November, with two in aftercare in Hull, one in finance in Hull and one in order fulfilment in Armitage, with other departments looking at how they can support the scheme.
The task team is Adam Holden, Vikki Atkin and John Robinson from Ideal Standard in partnership with Tom Reynolds, Chief Executive of the BMA, and Carmen Daley of the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance (FIESTA).
Vikki said: “This is a great way of supporting employment but also trialling new talent. We will also use it as an opportunity to develop people from our own workforce who will have the opportunity to become mentors for those on placements.
“It’s a six-month placement so they get a really good grasp of how a business operates and it gives us the opportunity to give something back to our local communities.”
Adam added: “Key to this is the partnership with the BMA so the various manufacturers can come together and help as an industry, and participating young people will also have access to BMA learning materials and events they organise.
“The fact we are taking a lead on this will help encourage other organisations within the industry to get on board.”