Work experience scheme launches at local college
Kirklees College have joined forces with employment experts, Stafflex, to provide students with a platform to gain valuable work experience and help employers create their future workforce.
‘KC Works’ gives employers the opportunity to ‘try before they buy’ by taking prospective employees on for work experience to see if it works out first.
Meanwhile, students will get a better understanding of individual organisations and the workplace – giving them valuable employability skills for when they leave college to work.
Local employers were invited to a launch event in the college’s Landings 72 Restaurant on Monday to find out how they can get involved either though offering work experience or placements or taking on an apprentice.
Kirklees College vice principal Melanie Brooke told employers the scheme was about developing work-based employability skills.
“Too often we hear that young people aren’t prepared for work,” she said.
“We can give them the knowledge, skills and techniques but you’re the people who can mould them into the employees of the future.
“Kirklees College is a high performing college specialising in vocational training. We are not a last option, we are the first choice for the right students and together we can get young people into employment and help regenerate the local area.”
Jude Flatley, KC Works project manager for Kirklees College, added: “Stafflex are experts at employer engagement and Kirklees College are experts in education so hopefully together we can give students exciting work placements and help employers fill the gaps in their workforce with skilled people.
“We are really passionate about this project and giving our students the best opportunity for work when they leave college.”
The Stafflex team will help to prepare the young recruits for employers from across the region, many of whom are already clients of the long-established recruitment firm.
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney also attended the launch and said he would be supporting the scheme by taking on an apprentice.
