Media
Very to recruit 30 young people via Kickstart initiative
June 15, 2021
The Very Group, operator of online retailers Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, will create 30 new roles as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme to improve opportunities for young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
Open via Job Centre Plus to 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit, the roles will offer valuable work experience during a paid six-month○placement within Very’s Customer Care, Technology or Colleague Experience teams at its Liverpool-based HQ, or within its operations team at its highly automated fulfilment centre in the East Midlands.
Very, which will supplement the chosen applicants’ Government funded wage, expects a number of the ‘Kickstarters’ to have the opportunity to apply for permanent roles at the end of their six month placements.
The programme, which will run from July to December, will see the Kickstarters learn the ins and outs of their new roles, alongside a range of skills to support their future employability and set them up for long-term success. This includes an initial assessment of each applicant’s requirements, followed by a tailored training schedule to build on areas of strength and develop new capabilities. The Kickstarters will be supported by their new line managers, as well as a personal mentor and a buddy from Very.
To deliver the programme, the retailer has partnered with The Prince’s Trust, which will provide the chosen applicants with employability webinars, one-to-one pastoral support and inspirational talks from Prince’s Trust Young Ambassadors, as well as helping them with their next steps post-placement. In addition, The Trust will run training sessions to support Very’s kickstart mentors, so they can best support the young people on the programme.
As well as paid work experience and tailored training, the Kickstart colleagues will gain access to a raft of Very colleague benefits, such as its colleague discount and use of its on-site fitness and wellbeing facilities, including gyms.
Vicky Ferrier, talent and capability director at The Very Group, said: “When it comes to the jobs market, young people have been disproportionately negatively impacted by the pandemic. But we know they have a huge amount to offer, both to our business and our communities. That’s why Kickstart is so important and why we’re proud to take part.
“By offering genuinely exciting, valuable and supported paid placements across our business – and providing employability skills alongside our partner The Prince’s Trust, we’re confident the chosen applicants will have bright futures ahead of them, whether that’s here at The Very Group or with another employer. We can’t wait to welcome the Kickstarters in July.”
If you, or someone you know, is bright, ambitious, on universal credit, and looking to make their first move into a new career, applications can be made via our careers pages.
