AN employment programme is offering hands-on experience and training to help young people into work.
The programme is specifically designed for NEET (not in education, employment, or training) individuals aged 18 to 21 and will run every Tuesday and Thursday in March, with one additional Wednesday session.
It will take place from 12pm to 3pm at the Think F.A.S.T Academy, located within Parr Sports Centre on Derbyshire Hill Road in Parr, St Helens.
The academy is run by ex-boxer Martin Murray and his wife Gemma.
The programme is fully funded through the Liverpool City Region Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, supported by Ways to Work and St Helens Council.
The programme has partnered with a range of local businesses to give young people insight into different career pathways.
Alongside this, they will be supporting participants with CV writing, employability skills, and interview preparation to help them become job-ready.
Each session will feature a range of employer talks, skills workshops, and hands-on learning opportunities, helping attendees build confidence and workplace knowledge.
Murraywood Construction will kick off the series on Tuesday, March 10, with Karen Alt presenting construction job opportunities and employer expectations.
She will be joined by a groundworker who began with no experience and is now beginning his NVQ Level 4.
The following session, on Thursday, March 12, will focus on CV writing.
Kelly Potter from United Infrastructure and Joanne Gillard from Skills People Group will deliver the workshop.
This will be followed by mock interviews the following week.
On Tuesday, March 17, Rob Whittle Ltd will start a landscaping project beside the centre, offering participants practical work experience.
Diamond Scaffolding will also set up a scaffolding rig for attendees to try.
Sessions throughout the programme will continue to build skills, from interview preparation to hands-on trade experience.
Totalis Construction will deliver a plumbing, joinery and electrical session on Tuesday, March 24.
A hair and beauty workshop will follow on Wednesday, March 25, led by Gemma and Amie.
Cara Brickwork will run a bricklaying and blockwork session on Thursday, March 26.
The final event, scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, will spotlight careers in the UK Armed Forces, presented by Army Careers Recruitment Officer James Allen.
Source: St Helens Star