A COVENTRY company has won a £1.1 million contract to support young people not in work or education.
PET-Xi, a training provider, will work alongside Warwickshire County Council over the next three years to support 780 15 to 24 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), or at risk of becoming so.
As part of the ‘Positive Futures’ programme, the young people, who have generally become disengaged from education and are furthest from the job market, will be provided with bespoke, tailored help to gain qualifications, employability skills and motivational support.
The overall aim is to help them progress onto a traineeship, an apprenticeship, further training or a job.
PET-Xi’s joint managing director Fleur Sexton said the company was prepared to help ‘whatever the problem’.
She added: “Young people who have become disengaged and fallen off their educational path are often facing huge challenges in their lives, such as debt or addiction or single parenthood and therefore have huge barriers to overcome.
“We will be sending our ‘champions’ – specially trained mentors – out into the communities of Warwickshire to deliver the support those young people need to help them find a rewarding and exciting career path.”
The training will be delivered in church halls, sports clubs and community buildings to help youngsters who might be unable to travel.
The latest government figures show that the West Midlands has one of the highest proportions of 16-24 year old NEETs in the country, at 15.1 per cent of the age group without work or not in education.
“We are really keen to get young people more involved with their local communities because we know how feeling proud of where you live and work has benefits for the area and the individual,” Ms Sexton added.
“Local businesses are helping too by offering to pay for childcare and transport where it’s needed for example.
“We are already nationally renowned for working with disengaged and NEET youngsters, so I’m absolutely delighted to have won this fantastic opportunity to expand our work in the local area and help young people in Warwickshire to overcome their problems and to go on to achieve their full potential.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with the scheme – either as a participant or a supporter by helping with transport or venues – should contact Gary Drake, Head of Contracts at PET-Xi on 02476 42 0310.
Visit www.pet-xi.co.uk for further information on PET-Xi.
