Marks & Spencer has created 360 placements to provide young people with ‘vital work and life skills’ training and experience in retail to help them get onto the career ladder.
The placements have been introduced in support of the government-backed Kickstart job scheme, aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds on universal credit, who are at risk of long-term unemployment. M&S says its work placements initiative is part of its wider commitment to employability, such as Marks & Start that has helped over 20,000 young people facing barriers into work.
The retailer will be working in partnership with The Prince’s Trust – M&S’s long-standing employability and Sparks charity partner – to deliver two work placements, of 180 people each, in April and June this year.
Roles will be available at stores across the UK, including M&S’s 30 Regional Academy stores, with successful applicants starting as trainee customer assistants. During their six-month placements, Kickstart workers will rotate across Foodhalls, backstage operations, hospitality, and Clothing & Home departments.
M&S says that the training programme will cover core life and work skills, such as resilience and wellbeing, communication skills and building confidence in the workplace. There will also be a key focus on digital skills and learning, and participants will have access to a range of digital devices to work with to support their training.
At the end of the placements, M&S aims to support Kickstart workers to apply for permanent opportunities where available in its stores. All Kickstart colleagues will be paid in line with current in-store pay levels.
Applications for the April placements have already opened at Jobcentre Plus locations across the UK.
Sacha Berendji, retail & property director at M&S, said: “Through our partnership with The Prince’s Trust, we’re proud to have supported thousands of people who face barriers to jumpstart their careers. But now more than ever, as a result of the pandemic, we know the challenges to find work are even greater for young people. That’s why, we’re proud to play our part by backing the Government’s Kickstart scheme and helping to build essential employability and skills to improve their chances of finding long-term careers.”
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