Futureversity launches Apprentice & Intern Programme

PRESS RELEASE

Youth charity Futureversity is celebrating after being awarded a major donation by Barclays Capital in an exciting development of the established partnership between the two organisations. The grant will pay for a new Futureversity Apprentice & Intern Programme, enabling 21 unemployed young people to gain structured, specialised training in a real workplace.

Barclays Capital has been a significant funder and partner for Futureversity for almost ten years. Together they run a popular ‘Introduction to Investment Banking’ course for 16-25 year olds as part of Futureversity’s summer programme. Also, in 2010, an award-winning programme was set up in which young people from Futureversity are mentored by Barclays Capital employees. (The employees won Team Achievement of the Year, UK in the annual Barclays Chairman’s Awards 2011).

Thanks to the grant, Futureversity, which runs hundreds of free courses and training opportunities for 11-25 year olds across London, can now move ahead with its plan to take on five apprentices and 12-16 interns. School leavers with talent and enthusiasm, but who lack qualifications, will undertake year-long apprenticeships, enabling them to build skills, contacts and attitudes that are crucial in today’s job market. Meanwhile, those fresh out of university will gain invaluable work experience in three or six month internships.

The aim of the programme is to address the desperate lack of employment opportunities for young people. Futureversity is based in Tower Hamlets, which although just a stone’s throw from the City of London and the corporate hub of Canary Wharf, is one of the most impoverished boroughs in the country, with the highest youth unemployment figures. A massive 40% of 16-25 year olds who live in the borough are not in employment, education or training (NEET) and the knock-on effect is felt community-wide in anti-social behaviour and crime.

The charity, which partners with a wide range of businesses to deliver courses in all kinds of careers completely free to young people, is hoping that even more will start investing in local young people now that the government has cut its funding so drastically.

Futureversity Chief Executive, Sarah Davies, said: 'We are so happy that Barclays Capital has awarded us this grant for our Apprentice & Intern Programme. It is incredibly heartening that a big corporation like Barclays puts time and money into supporting young people. With youth unemployment at an all time high and university tuition fees becoming unaffordable for many, it’s crucial that young people are given the opportunity to build the skills and experience they need to enter the job market.'

Wendy Lloyd, Head of Community Investment at Barclays Capital, said: 'We are delighted to build on our longstanding partnership with Futureversity and to further contribute to increasing the skills and employment prospects of young people in the local area. In addition, our staff have the opportunity of working with the apprentices and interns through mentoring and training sessions.'