Hugh Baird College proud to sign up to the ‘Caring Business Charter’ - a North West first!
Last week, Hugh Baird College attended the launch of Sefton Council’s Caring Business Charter, offering workplace opportunities across the College to care experienced young people.
Hugh Baird College has joined 48 local business in signing up to the Caring Business Charter and offering a workplace opportunity to a young person with experience of the care system.
The Charter aims to improve visibility and access for care experienced young people to employment, training, apprenticeship, work experience and mentoring opportunities.
The list of signatories to date stands at some 48 organisations from the public and private sectors, covering a range of industries from construction and project management to hospitality and healthcare.
Cllr. Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said:
I have been blown away by the enthusiasm from our local business community in supporting and enhancing our offer for our care experienced young people.
Not only does this provide an amazing opportunity for our young people but I am sure businesses will feel the benefit of working alongside some fantastic young people with bags of potential.
Statistics show that young people with experience of the care system can be disadvantaged in the jobs market. However, we are determined to use our local connections and influence to buck the trend here in Sefton and give our young people all the tools they need to be a success in whatever they choose to do.
This launch is just the start, we hope to have many more local businesses signed up by the end of the year!
Cllr. Mhairi Doyle, M.B.E., Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care said:
The launch of our Caring Business Charter is a North West first and is just the beginning of our drive and duty to support our young people into adulthood and help them to gain experience in whatever industry they choose to make their own.
I have been so thrilled to see our young people chatting with businesses and showcasing their own huge potential. I know that our local business community will learn just as much from our young people as they will from businesses.
I am so excited to follow the journeys of our young people as they make great connections with our local community and maybe find an opportunity that kickstarts their future.
The Make a Difference Care Experienced group said:
When you’ve spent time in care, it can feel like the odds are stacked against you but schemes like this open doors into industries that we might never have even considered.
Meeting the businesses today at the launch event gave us so much confidence that people in Sefton want to make a difference and help people with our life experiences showcase our potential.
To find out more about the Caring Business Charter in Sefton, please visit: www.sefton.gov.uk/business/caring-business-charter
