May 18th 2010

Tackling youth unemployment with real jobs

Unemployment figures are still rising, especially in the teenage and youth sector. Warnings are being made about inflation rising and lower disposable income – the emergency Budget we’re told will get more for less.

What better time for a not-for-profit company FIRST STEPS TO EMPLOYMENT 2010 – ‘FTSE 2010’, to be launched specifically to address the youth unemployment problem.

FTSE 2010 will employ local young people, mentored by experienced local volunteers, to provide low-cost solutions for local projects. Concentrating on building and construction trades which is one of the biggest problem areas, FTSE will:

• for building, decorating and landscaping trades employ partly qualified and experienced young people from the Swanley area.
• with the help of local experienced volunteers, mentor the young people to provide a high quality of customer service
• be providing a service for Housing Associations, local authorities and householders, with small maintenance jobs that would be otherwise unaffordable – getting more for less.

The founder of FTSE 2010, Neville Gaunt said “Initially from our base in Swanley, we aim to give our young employees the right work experience to develop skills in their chosen trades. We will also help and encourage them to develop general business skills that will also enhance their long term employment options. We’ll help them plan their future which may mean working long term for FTSE 2010, or gaining alternative employment with other companies, or having the confidence to start up their own businesses. But we’re not just about improving young people’s skills and their future employability, we’re also developing a sustainable local business providing a low-cost solution to the community. ”

Premises are being provided in Swanley town Centre by the owners and FTSE 2010 has the support of The Volunteer Services (Swanley, Dartford and Gravesend), KCC, Connexions, Kent Foundation, FSB, Swanley & District Chamber of Commerce, local Rotary Clubs and the local Councils.

The young are our future and volunteers that are the opposite end of their working life can help to build that future with FTSE 2010. The benefit to the local community, property and land owner’s is that those small jobs that were once too expensive can now be afforded – more for less.

For more information contacts are shown below

Neville Gaunt or Iain Hart on 0203 239 6330

FTSE 2010 – a company of the future, for young people, run by young people