SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association – is pleased to share the following story, originally shown in the news section of the Access Industry Forum website.
National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) members will provide more than 290 young people across the UK with scaffolding industry experience through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, which officially launches today.
A total of 50 NASC members – both contractors and suppliers – have signed up to the Kickstart Scheme through the NASC, committing to provide six-month work placements to out of work 18–24-year-olds.
The vast majority of these members will take on more than one candidate under the Scheme, with a handful providing 20+ positions, helping to push the combined total of vacancies to 294.
Henry Annafi, NASC Training Officer, who successfully co-ordinated the NASC’s gateway organisation bid and will support the 50 NASC members through the Scheme, said: “I am absolutely delighted but not surprised by the fantastic interest and take-up of the Scheme by NASC members.
“These members are as committed to training and recruitment as the NASC is as the UK trade body for the scaffolding industry and I’d like to applaud each and every one of them for their effort and enthusiasm to date.
“Through my conversations with these members it’s become clear that they’re all intending to go well beyond the parameters of the Scheme and will look to place all successful participants on apprenticeships or full employment once the six-month placement ends.
“There’s a long-term commitment being made and that’s because the members aren’t just keen to provide young people with short-term jobs, they want to give them a career.”
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create new job placements for young people on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Kickstart Scheme applications originally had to be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If a single employer was unable provide this many placements, they could apply for a smaller number through a Kickstart gateway.
Henry Annafi added: “The NASC has for many years led the way in the promotion of the industry to potential jobseekers. This took a huge step forward in 2020 through the launch of our dedicated careers website, aimed at encouraging would-be employees of all ages and backgrounds to take up a position in the scaffolding industry.
“Our Kickstart Scheme efforts – supported so admirably by our members – is another huge step forward. We can’t wait to get started.”
Any members interested in joining the NASC’s Kickstart Scheme gateway should email Henry Annafi on henry.annafi@nasc.org.uk