Everton Traineeships welcomed a number of high-profiled businesses and organisations through the Goodison doors for a business breakfast.
The Club’s 1878 Lounge played host to the invitation-only event on Tuesday 21 August, which was attended Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Employment, Enterprise and Skills, Councillor Nick Small.
Representatives from Merseytravel, the Thistle Hotel and the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce were also present.
Proceedings kicked off with breakfast and light refreshments – courtesy of Club partners Sodexo – before staff from the £4,492,219 initiative provided a brief introduction and overview of the programme before taking part in a question and answer session with the audience.
Cllr Small, who also addressed the group said: “I believe we will have failed as a city if young people don’t have a chance to take opportunities. The Everton Traineeship programme is all about opportunity and, as Liverpool is the only city where the number of young people not in employment, education or training is actually falling, it shows the initiative is paying off.”
Steven Hesketh, Managing Director of the city’s Richmond Hotel, which has already taken on a trainee as one of the first businesses to join the Consortium, and remain great supporters of the programme since its launch, added: “Football is at the heart of this city and the official charity of Everton Football Club, Everton in the Community, has a massive part to play within the local area.
“We couldn’t be happier with Todd, our first trainee. He is an invaluable part of our hospitality team, is very hard working and has fitted in well, which proves that the Everton Traineeships’ initiative is most definitely working. I’d urge more businesses to get involved and help to give young people work opportunities.”
Launched in April 2014 in partnership with partner Ingeus, Everton in the Community delivers the flagship programme, which offers young people from across the region access to qualifications and employment.
The project targets young people between the ages of 16-24 (25 for those with a Learning Difficulty Assessment) from across the Merseyside area and focusses on providing them with the transferrable skills needed to secure an apprenticeship, full-time training or employment upon conclusion.
Prestigious local and national businesses are on board, and continue to be invited to become part of the Everton Traineeship Consortium. They will have the opportunity to take on a trainee, and have a host of benefits available through joining which can be viewed in greater detail by clicking here.
For further information on the programme, and further forthcoming events, email traineeships@evertonfc.com or call 07583 048810.
