Staffordshire's sad story of thousands on dole

Each young person without a job is a sad story of unfulfilled potential.

And it is holding the economy of a proud county back from reaching its goal of total employment.

Stoke-on-Trent has the highest levels with 870 16-24 year-olds claiming Jobseekers Allowance – an unemployment rate of 2.8 per cent.

The city is followed by Cannock Chase where there are 200 youngsters on the dole queue which makes up 1.9 per cent of the workforce.

The Ladder was launched to help tackle a real problem of youth unemployment in the region.

We wanted to be part of a solution to the issue, to actively help our communities.

Working with our partners we have been able to do that – and continue to do so.

But that problem isn't exclusive to the Black Country, there are thousands of young people without work, without careers and with a gloomy future across the country.

With our sister paper, the Shropshire Star, we have tried to look at the problems in Shropshire. And now, with the help of new partners including the county council and chamber of commerce, we are looking to help people in Staffordshire.

The Ladder is reaching out to both employers – large and small – and young people.

We have appealed to all businesses, large and small, to do what they can to help our young people. If bosses can offer just one apprenticeship that is one more person who is will be given the chance of a decent future, of a career.

And businesses in the Black Country have answered our call – we would urge firms in Staffordshire to do the same.

Employers find that apprentices are enthusiastic young people, eager to learn and succeed who can be trained to play an important role in their company.

Skills

Young people are offered the chance to learn a trade and new skills. The begin earning while taking the first steps on the career ladder.

Apprenticeships have, for too long, been seen as a poor alternative to further education. Today we realise that people who become apprenticeships do go on to be hugely successful in their field.

University is not for everybody, apprenticeships are a direct way for young people to learn a trade or professional skills and get a job.

I would urge young people looking for opportunities to contact the Ladder and see some of the roles available. If you have children, grandchildren or neighbours looking for a start in life please wave the phone number at them or point them in the direction of the website. This could a life-changing move – taking the first step toward a promising career.

The Ladder is helping hundreds of people in the Black Country and Shropshire and we want to help young people in in Staffordshire too.

As our patron, Prince Andrew, says we are the 'local solution to a national problem'.

And we need you to be part of that solution. Whether you are a business who could offer an apprenticeship or a young person who would benefit from being given an opportunity, please get in touch.

Apprenticeships benefit young people, they benefit firms but they also help the local economy. Our communities benefit from getting young people into work contributing to the businesses but also having cash available to spend elsewhere. This really is a win-win situation for everyone.

There are a further 200 on the dole in Newcastle-under-Lyme, 190 in South Staffordshire, 180 in East Staffordshire, 165 in Stafford, 80 in Lichfield and Staffordshire Moorlands, and 55 in Tamworth.

But we are calling on the communities of Staffordshire to step forward and help us tackle this blight which denies our young people a future.

On the back of our successful and lauded Ladder for the Black Country apprenticeship drive, the Express & Star has again teamed up with partners at the Vine Trust and training provider Performance Through People to tackle the issue. We are joined by the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent Council in a bid to drive up the number of apprenticeships under the banner of the Ladder for Staffordshire campaign.

The aim is simple: to give young adults a chance to give them training while being paid, and put them onto the first rung of the jobs ladder.

And we are now asking businesses across Staffordshire to join our campaign, to offer young adults a lifeline out of unemployment by creating new apprenticeships.

Led by PTP, a host of training providers and colleges are signed up to ensure the best possible support and guidance for both businesses and young people.

And we are confident the campaign will bring a host of success stories like those experienced with the Ladder for the Black Country which has helped the businesses, young people and local economy.

The benefits of apprenticeships are vast. Steel Processing (Midlands) Ltd, based in Burntwood, is an expanding manufacturing company that has used apprentices for several years. The firm has seven current and former apprentices with the company.

Founded in 1993, in its first month the company delivered 30 tons of material. It now delivers more than 40,000 tons a year and has plans to expand.

Nick Liggins, aged 43, the firm's commercial director, said: "We were a small fairly small business start up in 1993 with five or six people. We now employ 43 people and have a turnover of £20million.

"What we need is young people with energy with rounded experience. We started with apprentices in quality and product control roles and sales administration but we have taken on two of them on in the works.

"It gives us the chance to mould skills, culture and the philosophy of the business into the apprentices without adding a lot of expensive cost at the outset.

"We like that apprenticeships are flexible and the programme delivered by PTP is fantastic. You get what you put into the apprentices. We are seeing some go on day release to do qualifications which will not only boost them but us as a company too.

"As a business we do not necessarily have the time or resources to do the whole recruitment process. What PTP does is find you quality candidates that are right for the role.

"If we can bring them in at a young age we find that they are loyal to us as a business.

"Taking on apprentices is definitely worth it. They are raw but they have the desire and energy to flourish and it is amazing how a set of new eyes can help your company. We have to invest time and effort into teaching them but there are rewards for us and them. I think an apprenticeship is a good grounding.

"My advice would be get on an apprenticeship scheme. Opportunities knock in small businesses if you can step up to the plate.

"Some young people take the manual work route straight from school because the money is better initially and forfeit the opportunity to grow and develop a career."

Michael Freeth, 31, lives in Cannock, is a former apprentice and now a purchasing executive with the company.

He joined as a 16 year-old and had been the company ever since.

He said: "Initially my apprenticeship was varied and I picked up a bit of everything.

"A career path developed for me in the business side which is what I have been doing.

"I don't think schools promoted apprenticeships as well as they could have. I looked at them outside of school and they fitted everything that I wanted to do.

"PTP were very good and I training alongside my job where I did an NVQ in IT, administration and key skills. The next step for me is to do a recognised industry qualification."

Holly Westwood, 18, from Burntwood, has been an apprentice in quality control for four months. She joined the firm after studying at Walsall College. She said: "I always wanted an apprenticeship but I couldn't find the right one. I saw this one and it was what I wanted to do. An apprenticeship is an interesting way of learning as you are training on the job and by being around staff you get experience of it at the same time.

"It has a lot of benefits. You get experience of working, get qualifications, and the bonus is that you are getting paid."

Sarah Cassar, 24, from Heath Hayes, has been with the company for three years and started out as an apprentice is sales administration.

She said: "The apprenticeship helped train me up in different departments with different types of experience.

"It is a good way for you to get experience and helps boost your confidence."

Joe Penny, 22, from Burntwood, is a production controller.

He said: "I came in as an allocation assistant. Since I have been able to go on to bigger and better things which has been really good. There has been a real chance to move up through the company and develop. I would not have been able to get to where I am without it.

"I did a few full-time jobs such as working at a chicken factory before I had this opportunity. I haven't looked back since."

Another advocate of apprenticeships is Julie Aston who has run Little Chimps nursery in John Street, Wimblebury, for 19 years. She is about to open a second nursery in Cannock Road Hednesford.

She employs eight staff and has 87 children on her books. She has two apprentice child carers and is on the look out for another.

She said: "I am a strong supporter of the apprenticeships because one of the biggest frustrations there are for young people is that employers all want people with experience so it is near to impossible for youngsters to get on the jobs ladder. That is why I like to take on apprentices as it gets people into a job where they can get training and do a qualification."

Apprentice Brinlee Jackson, 18, from Chase Terrace, said: "I wanted to work in child care but it was hard to find a job because a lot of places wanted people with lots of experience.

"I love my apprenticeship. The job is varied and you get training and do your qualifications on the job.

"It is ideal for me and I think it is a really good route for those leaving school and want to develop a career."

Skills minister Nick Boles is behind the apprenticeships campaign and said: "The Ladder is a brilliant initiative. It is a real example of experts from across a community coming together to give young people an opportunity.

For every apprentice you may be eligible

for a Government grant of £1,500

Firms taking on apprentices report increased productivity

National Insurance relief is offered

You are earning while you train

You'll be treated like an employee with paid annual leave

You can gain first hand knowledge of how the industry works

"A newspaper, as the heart of that community, has the ability to unite everyone and I congratulate the Express & Star for being able to do that with its partners.

"Apprenticeships are vital. When people leave school we want them to either go to university or to take up an apprenticeship - and both routes should be given equal footing.

"Those who take up an apprenticeship at level 2 will on average earn 11 per cent more than those who don't after three years. And those who complete a level 3 apprenticeship earn 16 per cent more after three years.

"We have seen apprenticeships double under this government and want to see three million created by the end of the next parliament. For employers it is a simple choice. I have spoken to hundreds of companies up and down the country who have taken on an apprentice - and they have never regretted it.

"It is a great way of training your own employees so you build the workforce you want.

"For young people there is no better way than working your way up the career ladder than by an apprenticeship.

"There are so many former apprentices who are now chief executives."