Groundwork NE & Cumbria achieves success with its Northern Directions employability programme for young people across the region

Northern Directions, a voluntary employability project for young people aged 16 – 24 years old, run by Groundwork NE & Cumbria, celebrates success after the latest cohort completed their work placements and secured permanent jobs and other employment opportunities across the region.

Northern Directions has been running since April 2024 supporting economically inactive and socially excluded young people in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. It is one of several projects funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the North East Combined Authority as the lead authority. The initiative offers personalised 1-2-1 support for each young person with the chance of a paid and fully supported three-month work placement with employers across the North East. The aim is to help bridge the ever-widening gap between economically inactive and socially excluded young people and the world of work and training.

97 young people have successfully completed the project, with 72% going straight into jobs, training or education and all candidates have improved their life skills and employability after gaining real-workplace experience and training. Groundwork NE &

Cumbria hopes to work with 240 young people before the project ends in March 2025.

One of the distinctive features of Northern Directions is that Groundwork NE & Cumbria works with businesses and employers across all industry sectors to secure workplace opportunities for young people and pays their salaries for a three-month placement. During this time, they also provide individual mentoring and peer support to both the young people and the employers.

Throughout the programme, the team works closely with the young people to help them navigate the world of work while supporting the employers in adjusting jobs and working environments to accommodate individual needs. Identifying and tackling potential barriers or issues facing young people in the workplace lowers the risk of them feeling overwhelmed and leaving the project.

Kier Group, Wyn Construction, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, the Maldron Hotel, Ne14.TV and Tomahawk restaurants have all taken part in the most recent round of work placements, which began in July. All employers have been tremendously supportive of the programme and the workers assigned to their businesses, liaising closely with the mentors and adapting roles and workplace practices to accommodate the individual needs of the young people.

Commenting on the success Mary Blackwell, Project Manager, Northern Directions at Groundwork NE & Cumbria said: “We are so grateful to the businesses for providing these opportunities for young people and helping them grow and develop. With their help, support and hard work, we can unlock the hidden talent trapped in the growing number of economically inactive and socially excluded young people in this region.

“Helping young people overcome initial barriers to work and paying and supporting them in real jobs helps break the cycle of economic exclusion and inactivity. Experience builds pride and self-belief, which in turn creates the right environment for future sustained employment.”

John Osborne, Operations Director of Wyn Construction in Durham said: “We have been working with Groundwork NE & Cumbria on employment

opportunities in the North East for young people looking to break into Civil Engineering. As part of the process, we conducted interviews with potential candidates hand-selected and screened by the Groundwork team to ensure they had the right profile for the placement. “We are pleased to confirm that after our first placement candidate has been kept on and has started on our Lynx Pre-Cast project in Ashington and is becoming an integral part of the Wyn site team. “The work Groundwork NE & Cumbria does is excellent, and we recommend employers contact them to see what they can offer.”

Cllr Tracey Dixon, North East Combined Authority Cabinet member for Education, inclusions and skills said: “When it comes to solving youth unemployment there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution. In the real world, there are lots of reasons why young people are socially excluded and not in work.

“Which is why I am pleased our funding has led to such positive outcomes for the young people involved. Projects like this do enormous good in our communities. Boosting young people’s confidence in their own skills and abilities, enabling them to succeed in the workplace.”

Another young person helped by Northern Directions joined Equity Accounting on placement and has been offered a permanent position at the company. The company is now supporting her through accountancy qualifications.

Equity Accounting is hoping to work with Northern Directions in the future to offer placements which could lead to permanent positions with the company.

Businesses interested in working with Northern Directions to offer supported workplace opportunities for young people should contact Jason Cook, Groundwork Employment Engagement Manager, Northern Directions – Jason.cook@groundwork.org.uk