Connexions Salford

Connexions Salford has been actively involved in the successful placing of 10 young people into Business Administration apprenticeships with Trinity Business Training, a newly formed part of Salford City College. Apprenticeships allow young people to earn whilst they learn.

On the 25 March 2010 Connexions were invited to a celebratory lunch to mark the launch of Trinity Business, their apprenticeship programmes and the first cohort of apprentices.

Connexions offer a free recruitment and vacancy matching service to employers.  One of the many benefits of using this service is that they  vacancy reaches a large and wide audience.  The vacancy was advertised on the popular cnx2jobs website and was displayed in schools, colleges and Connexions Centres.  

Connexions Salford formed links with Trinity in September 2009 to promote and manage the vacancy. 46 young people across Greater Manchester applied and 21 were interviewed.  10 young people were offered the Apprenticeship ,with 60% of successful apprentices moving from NEET( Not In Education Employment or Training) into paid training.  

Salford Connexions were essential to the recruitment process.  They arranged interviews, providing the link from employer to young person.   Young people had expert 1-1 support and advice from Connexions Advisors in completing Connexions Application Forms and individualised preparation for their interviews.  

In some cases, it was necessary to advocate for young people in accessing funding for clothing grants so they felt confident when they attended interview.    

Salford Connexions client Dale, 19, had been extremely pro-active in looking for work before securing his Apprenticeship with Trinity Business and regularly attended Connexions. Dale said  

'Connexions was like my second home I was always in there looking for apprenticeships and jobs, I was signing on the dole which didn't help me get a job and I was in a difficult place, because I really wanted to work so in the end I had was always speaking to my Advisor Jane Roberts, I wanted to choose administration, I was a past student who studied construction at college and when the opportunity to be an admin apprentice came I really wanted to do it, so  I had mock interviews with the Connexions staff and discussed what questions might come up in the interview, so when I went for the interviews  I was so pleased when I got the job, I really think that the staff at Salford Connexions are great and I really do thank them for what they have done.'  

Hazel Blears  was on hand to share the success of  this successful venture between two Salford organisations.  

If you would like more information about Connexions Salford and the services available to young people, parents/carers  please contact 0161 743 0163 or visit Connexions Salford.   

If you're an employer please ask for Employment Support Co-ordinators on the telephone number above.  Alternatively e-mail:
Michelle Robinson  or Jan Vujakovic