dy Laura Hailstufie UNEMPLOYED YOUNG people are being encouraged into
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logistics via a work experience scheme run by youth charity The Prince's Trust.
The Get Into Logistics programme has been piloted over the past 18 months with several logistics companies, including DIAL, Norbert Dentressangle and Waitrose.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics (CILT) have joined original backer the DIAL UK Foundation to take the scheme to the next stage, with an official launch due in October.
"Too many young people feel that they will never reach their full potential. We are thrilled to be able to make a difference to the lives of young people in the UK," said Tim Slater, chair man of CILT's Aspire foundation and The Prince's Trust's advisory group on logistics.
Aimed at 18to 25-year-olds, Get Into Logistics involves a two-week work placement, a CV workshop and personal development classes. Once the placement ends, participants receive ongoing support for six months to help them retain their job or to support them into one.
FTA chief executive Theo de Pencier told CM that 70% of the young people who have taken part in the pilot to date have gone on to either full-time education or full-time jobs.
"I have no doubt that this programme will help nurture the talent of those young people who take part in it, ensuring they will develop their job skills and be given the confidence to succeed," added de Pencier.
The investing partners and The Prince's Trust are now appealing to other businesses in the sector to support the programme.
"We want to significantly expand The Prince's Trust Get Into Logistics programme over the next few years. This partnership between DHL UK Foundation, the FTA and CILT will go a long way in ensuring we are doing just that, but we need more businesses to come forward and join in the mission," said Julian Barrel, director of fundraising at The Prince's Trust.
De Pencier added: "The plan is to build up the scheme so that in a couple of years we'll be running programmes to enable 2,000 unemployed youngsters a year to move into the industry in a structured way."
• To find out more, contact the business development team at The Prince's Trust on 020 7543 7408 or email busdev@princes-trustorg.uk