Travis Perkins has been approved as one of the Government’s official Kickstart employers and is to provide 800 work placements for young people.
The Group employs 28,000 people and the news comes as part of its commitment to supporting skills and training for young, unemployed 16 to 24-year olds, and will also support the economic recovery by combating rising unemployment in this age group during the pandemic.
As with its portfolio of nearly 40 apprenticeships, Travis Perkins will deliver this new programme in-house and sees these Kickstart placements – which are initially six-months long – as a great source for developing its pipeline of colleagues in addition to being an opportunity to build a more diverse workforce for the future across all of its businesses.
The announcement follows the Group’s continued recovery in the third quarter which saw like for like growth of 3.9%, driven by strong demand in the domestic Repair, Maintenance and Improvement construction markets.
Nick Roberts, CEO of Travis Perkins plc, commented: “This year we have confronted unprecedented challenges in the face of a pandemic. The impact has been especially severe on those many young people who require further experience and qualifications, and may now find it more difficult to get a job in an even more competitive market.
“The breadth of our businesses and our track record for training and development combined with the strong family values and commitment we have to our local communities, mean we have a strong offering for the Kickstart candidates here at Travis Perkins. We hope this will provide those particularly at risk of longer-term unemployment with the skills and experience they need to be better equipped for the job market in future. We see these placements as a way to ensure young people feel valued and invested in, and a way to help them build their confidence about longer term job opportunities within our own Group, or elsewhere, given the skills shortages our industry faces longer term.”
As an approved supplier, Travis Perkins has met all necessary requirements to begin the recruitment of Kickstart candidates through dedicated work coaches at Jobcentre Plus. Kickstarters will be working in roles across a number of areas; including yards, warehouses, branches, tool hire, administration and stock management. Recruitment will start initially within the plumbing and heating businesses, followed by the rest of the Group’s trade businesses throughout 2021.
In addition to practical skills, the comprehensive training schedule across the Travis Perkins businesses will include health and safety training and employability to cover CV writing and interview preparation. Candidates will also be supported by a dedicated Kickstart Coach via online webinars and virtual one-to-one sessions to help ensure robust readiness for long term employment.
All Kickstarters at the Group will also be eligible and considered for apprenticeships and new vacancies across the businesses at the appropriate point of their placement and work experience.
