19 July 2018
In direct response to the 800,000 young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is working with national charity, UK Youth, on a new programme to equip young people with employability skills and confidence to transition into work.
To help support these young people into work, CCEP and UK Youth’s new programme, Reach Up, will engage 16 to 23 year olds who are either NEET, at risk of becoming NEET or underemployed (i.e. involuntarily working part-time after failing to secure full-time employment), and empower them with the confidence, skills and experience needed to feel ready for the work place. Reach Up will be piloted with a group of young people in the Wirral, in the north west of England, during the rest of 2018.
Patrick Shaw-Brown, Director of National Programmes at UK Youth said: “The transition into employment is a tough experience for many young people, bringing with it challenges and responsibilities they may not be aware of, or equipped to cope with. Many young people don’t have, or don’t recognise that they have, the confidence or relevant experiences needed to enter the workplace. We’re proud to partner with Coca-Cola European Partners on this new programme and give young people real life workplace experiences, alongside bespoke training to ensure they feel ready for the workplace.”
Reach Up will address the key issues young people face surrounding employment through a range of activities. These include workshops delivered by youth workers and CCEP volunteers; networking masterclasses; mock interviews; and real life experience through spending a day in the life of the CCEP’s Field Sales team and even running their own Community Café! At the end of the programme, young people will have the employability skills and confidence to secure full-time employment and thrive within the workplace.
An Vermeulen, Vice President Field Sales, CCEP said: “At CCEP we believe in an inclusive society and diverse workforce that brings together different levels of expertise, backgrounds and perspectives. Research shows that many young people lack confidence and some of the key skills needed to thrive in the workplace. We understand these skills often take time to develop. This is why we want to dedicate more than 50 volunteering days to the delivery of Reach Up. Alongside UK Youth, we hope to help empower the next generation with the employability skills and confidence needed to transition into work. Our local field sales teams are based across the country and are inspired and motivated to nurture this in the local communities by providing coaching and experience”
Please note – At the time of launch, Reach Up worked with young people aged 16-23. Since 2020, Reach Up has expanded delivery to engage young people aged 16-25.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact:
Emma Roberts, Head of Marketing and Communications, UK Youth:
Emma.roberts@ukyouth.org | 07455 554 690