First Great Western helps tackle youth unemployment

First Great Western (FGW) has become the 40th business to sign up to Plymouth City Council’s 1,000 Club in a move to help tackle unemployment among the City’s young.

The train operator, which runs both engineering and customer service apprenticeship schemes, joined the club to help provide more opportunity, and advice and guidance, to get people on the road to employment.

FGW Operations Apprenticeship Scheme Manager Andrew Perry said:

“First Great Western employs over 5,000 staff across the Great Western network and is delighted to join Plymouth City Council’s 1000 Club. 

“We are very supportive of efforts to improve the employment of young people, and recently launched our own 16-18 year old apprenticeships.  

“Whether you want to be an engineer or a member of our helpful and courteous train staff, it is vital that we help to provide those opportunities for the communities which we serve.”

Council Leader Tudor Evans, who spent Friday morning with a First Great Western apprentice at Plymouth Station, said:

“We’re thrilled that a national company is getting behind our campaign and is prepared to invest its time, energy and efforts into helping the next generation get a feel for employment.

“The company is opening up opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds – an age group that some other companies have found it easier to ignore. It is particularly impressive to see this level of commitment during a difficult economic period for the country.”

Launched at the end of September, the 1,000 Club aims to make it easier for employers and young people to team up to better suit each other’s needs. This could include work experience, graduate internships and jobs, both full and part-time.

The 1,000 Club has been established through the Plymouth Growth Board – a partnership between business and senior public sector leaders. It aims to make sure plans to increase and spending power in Plymouth happen.