A North Tyneside training scheme designed to support young people interested in a career in retail has had its first successes.
The joint initiative between North Tyneside Council and Barnardo’s was funded by The Crown Estate as part of the proposal for the extension of the Silverlink Retail Park.
Aimed at unemployed young people between the ages of 16 and 24, the programme was designed as an introduction to the demands of a career in the retail industry and covered elements such as team work, customer service, sales, interview skills, health and safety, equality, diversity and problem solving in a retail environment.
All five participants achieved a level one certificate in retail and have all progressed to either employment or to further training.
“Michael Bell, Asset Manager for the regional portfolio at The Crown Estate which owns Silverlink Retail Park, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with North Tyneside to help support local young people develop their skills and experience to build great careers in the retail sector, and we’d like to congratulate them on their success today.”
Jasmine Teague from Wallsend is one of the successful participants and after doing the programme; the 18-year-old has progressed to working for BandM stores, one of UK's fastest growing variety retailers.
Jasmine said: “I feel the training has given me a good head start over other jobseekers and gives me the skills to find work quickly. The tutors helped me re-build my self-belief and gain skills that enabled me to perform well in job interviews.”
North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn, added: “Jasmine is exactly the type of young person we are looking to help into employment. Both she and the others who have taken part in this partnership initiative along with local business will benefit from this type of programme.
“North Tyneside businesses need a talented and motivated pool of employees to grow the local economy and these young people will help with that”
ENDS
About The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, established by an Act of Parliament, and returns as its profit to the Treasury for the benefit of the public finances.
Over the last 10 years The Crown Estate has returned over £2.3bn to the Treasury. In the last financial year the value of the business rose to over 11bn and its returns were £285.1m.
Across its diverse portfolio, The Crown Estate’s approach remains consistent; driving sustainable returns and growth through an active approach to asset management and long term investment in four key sectors: London’s West End, regional retail, strategic land for development and offshore wind.
The Crown Estate’s regional portfolio is valued at over £2bn and includes 14 regional shopping parks, interests in three shopping centres and two leisure schemes. Examples of assets within the portfolio include; Silverlink Shopping Park in Newcastle, Aintree Shopping Park near Liverpool, MK1 Shopping and Leisure Park in Milton Keynes, the Coliseum Shopping Park in Ellesmere Port and CrownGate Shopping Centre in Worcester.