Businesses Urged To Participate In 'Ready For Work' Placement Scheme

Belfast City Council and educational charity Sentinus have called on businesses to participate in their summer 'Ready for Work' placement programme.

'Ready for Work' will offer structured four to six-week placements to shortlisted 16-17 year old Belfast students in high growth sectors, including the creative and digital industries, legal and financial services, green and information technologies.

Companies currently offering 'Ready for Work' placements include Danske Bank, Radius Housing and Bazaarvoice.

Councillor Donal Lyons, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee is urging more employers to get involved: "We made a commitment in The Belfast Agenda to address barriers to employment and help everyone in Belfast to fulfil their potential. As part of that work, we've partnered with Sentinus to interview GCSE and A Level students right across Belfast who are eager to gain real world work experience during their summer holidays.

"Investing in our young people's skills and talent is key to our future growth and prosperity. We have fantastic businesses in Belfast, and I look forward to seeing many of them supporting this next generation by getting involved in the Ready for Work programme."

Commenting on the Ready for Work programme, Bill Connor, Sentinus CEO added: "STEM subjects are vital to creating a future workforce of innovators and safeguarding our economic stability.

"The 'Ready for Work' programme will not only give businesses access to young talent, but it's also a great opportunity for young people to get insight into the world of work, enhance their employability and shape their future careers. So we'd like to hear from businesses, willing to offer these brilliant students practical experience and help them prepare for the world of work. The fact that we take all the administrative burden off them makes it an easy option to support the growth of the next generation.

"STEM needs to be actively encouraged and moved up the agenda, to ensure our young people continue to grow and meet the demands of the current and future knowledge economy."

Sentinus is a leading educational charity working with schools and colleges across Northern Ireland to deliver programmes promoting engagement in STEM. It currently supports over 50,000 young people annually by enhancing their life skills.

(MH)