As part of a Government-backed Future Jobs Fund initiative, St Loye’s Enterprises - a division of Exeter-based training charity St Loye’s Foundation - has just employed its first group of long term unemployed 18-24 year olds.
St Loye’s Enterprises, is part of two successful consortia, Devon County Council locally, and 3SC nationally, and is planning on creating sustainable employment for more than 70 young people.
Sid Humphries, Head of Employment and St Loye’s Enterprises explained: “18-24 year-olds who have been unemployed for several months, can be referred to us through Job Centre Plus offices in
“We will then place them in environmental and/or community related jobs and projects for six months and support them with training and mentoring with a view to establishing permanent employment for them. We have also identified jobs for administrative and IT assistants, drivers, as well as learning and development support workers to provide mentoring to all of our employees.
“As an example, we will base some of these employees at St Loye’s Horticultural training centre at West Hill Garden Centre, near Ottery St Mary, where they can gain training for jobs with land-based skills related businesses, while others will be helping to create a sensory garden for The Children’s Society.
“We receive a monthly payment from the consortia with which we will pay our employees £6 per hour for a 25 hour week. Their services will be free to charities or not-for-profit organisations but we would appreciate a charitable donation. We would be especially interested in hearing from commercial businesses who are interested in our services and/or employing these young people.
“We are determined that this initiative is not viewed either by employers or employees as a temporary unemployment alleviating measure. We want to create sustainable jobs which benefit everyone involved – employees, employers, the community and the environment.”
St Loye’s is also seeking businesses to sponsor the Future Jobs Fund initiative in kind by providing appropriate tools and equipment to help them with environmental projects.
If individuals or businesses would like to support St Loye’s with this initiative they should contact Sid Humphries or Kerri Ward on 01392 826120 or sid.humphries@stloyesenterprises.com / kerri.ward@stloyesenterprises.com
