Staffordshire youngsters can kick-start their careers as free BT work placement scheme comes to Stoke-on-Trent for the first time

BT is on the look-out for 30 young people in Staffordshire who are ready to kick-start their working life with a free work placement in Stoke-on-Trent.

The three-week course, which combines hands-on work experience and tech know-how with coaching and training, is open to anyone aged 16 to 24 not currently in education, employment or training.

BT work placements offer the opportunity for people to build confidence and learn practical work skills such as CV writing and interview techniques. Attendees are given a certificate showing their attendance and achievements to demonstrate their commitment to prospective employers.

Next month the scheme is coming to north Staffordshire for the first time, when BT’s Telecom House in Trinity Street, Hanley, hosts the first of two sessions. It takes place from April 4 until 26, from 10am until 4.30pm. For anyone who can’t make those dates, there’s another course planned from June 26 until July 16.

To apply, and for more details about these and other sessions, visit www.bt.com/workready.

The first week of the course focuses on building and developing key skills such as writing a stand out CV and application, interview techniques, self-confidence and computing skills.

This is followed by a week ‘on the job’, shadowing employees and getting hands on experience of the working day.

The final days of the work placement are spent doing mock interviews and developing an individual plan of the next steps to find employment or return to education.

Colin Bannon, chair of BT’s regional board in the West Midlands, said: “A BT work placement is a fully supported programme, which can inspire young people, giving them the confidence and skills they need to either start their working life or return to education.

“I would encourage any young person looking to get on a new career path to join a work placement. We regularly run courses around the region so even if you can’t attend either of these ones in Hanley, register your interest to make sure you don’t miss out in the future.”

BT work placements are part of the BT Work Ready programme which is a series of initiatives provided to help young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, gain employment skills and get them ready for work. It’s part of BT’s commitment as a founding partner in the Movement to Work coalition of employers.**

Since 2014 and to date more than 3,500 young people from around the UK have participated in the programme.More than half of those who have completed have gone on to either gain employment or return to education.

Further information on BT’s Work Ready programme – www.bt.com/workready

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For further information about this news release please contact Emma Tennant at the BT regional press office on 0800 085 0660 or email: emma.tennant@bt.com

Twitter: @EmmaTennantBT

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Notes to Editors

** Movement to Work offers work placements to 16-24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training. And particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who can struggle to identify and take advantage of employment opportunities.

www.movementtowork.com

BT is a lead company for the charity, which is a collaboration of UK employers aiming to tackle youth unemployment by providing high-quality work experience placements.

About BT

BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of six customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2017, BT Group’s reported revenue was £24,062m with reported profit before taxation of £2,354m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com