A North-East initiative is paying dividends for young people - giving them the chance to experience the workplace, and giving future employers the chance to get to know potential furture workers. John Dean finds out more about the scheme.

TEENAGER Andrew Skyrme has a dream. The 16-year-old, from Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, wants to run a bar abroad and now a training scheme in his home town is helping him work towards that goal.

Called E2E, the initiative offers young people hands-on experience of work, either to learn about their chosen career, or to help them choose one.

The scheme is run by Shape Training, which is based in Sotherby Road, Middlesbrough, and is part of Cleveland Youth Association.

It is part of an extensive training programme offered by the association, which has 52 staff and has been in existence for more than 30 years helping young people aged 16 to 18 find jobs, obtain places on apprenticeships, achieve NVQ qualifications or go on to further education.

The association, most of whose funding comes from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), deals with 450 teenagers a year and Shape Training makes up a large portion of its work.

Andrew is typical of the young people taking part. During his time on the programme he will learn basic managerial skills, handyman techniques, which may benefit him in bar work, and be given business advice.

He said: "I have wanted to run a bar abroad for a year. You see them on holiday and it looks like a good thing to do.

"I would like to go abroad and work in bars to get a feel for it and to obtain some experience, but before I do that, I know I need some business knowledge. The scheme has been a good experience for me."

Shape Training initially launched E2E in 2003, but revamped it in August to be more beneficial for learners and employers.

Under E2E, learners who approach the organisation or who are referred by bodies such as Connexions, initially undergo a six-week basic numeracy and literacy programme to ensure they have the kind of skills an employer is looking for.

This includes learning how to deal with customers and clients.

The course, which is equivalent to NVQ level one, also gives participants a basic experience of health and safety, food hygiene and safety awareness.

Kevin Spindloe, learning and development manager, said: "That initial six weeks gives them experience of team-building and we work to develop their communications and employability skills.

"We do not turn them away because they do not have the academic qualities. What we are looking for is a willingness to learn.

"We try to instil attitude, behaviour and commitment, and to give those with low esteem confidence in themselves. We also focus on what the employer will want."

After the six weeks is completed, local companies become involved, offering the learners taster sessions, during which they spend time working in everything from shops and restaurants to offices and nursing homes - and even alongside engineers.

Once the tasters are completed, they select a place to spend the remainder of the 20-week programme.

Mr Spindloe said: "We try to get the learners to think about their options and we have had some great successes.

"We want them to expand their thinking. Some may have an idea of what they want to do but have not considered other areas.

"We had one who wanted to be a joiner and is now working with uPVC windows, another who is now working in the painting and decorating trade. One even considered embalming at one stage.

"Other learners may not know what they want to do and this gives them some ideas."

During the placements, the learners are paid by Shape Training. Mr Spindloe said: "For the employers, it is low-risk. Some companies spend a lot of money on the recruitment process. This way, they are given the chance to see the young person they may employ over a period of time.

"It suits the employers and it is what the kids want. They tell us it means a lot to them."

Seventy-five per cent of young people who apply for the programme are accepted. Mr Spindloe said: "It is working well. Before, we had an attendance level of 20 to 30 per cent, now it is in the high 90s. That is a massive change-around.

"We are seeing a willingness to learn from the young people.

"During the first six weeks, we are seeing them asking a lot of questions because they genuinely want to learn."

Association chief executive Simon Healey said: "We are running along business lines, and there is a culture of continuous improvement and on providing quality. We are doing some innovative work.

"One advantage of what Shape Training offers is that a college may have an annual intake, whereas we have a monthly one, so a student who starts a college course and discovers it is not for them can come and start on our programme."

More businesses are needed for the E2E programme. Anyone interested in getting involved is asked to call (01642) 230973.