Kelly Oates is overseeing the traineeship programme at PHX Trainings Preston

Preston training provider PHX Training has appointed a dedicated traineeship advisor to help young people get into work.

Kelly Oates is working locally in Preston to promote the benefits of traineeships to local businesses and young people aged 19-24.

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Traineeships are available to unemployed people and provide an opportunity for the completion of a work placement while working towards qualifications in English, maths, IT, employability and retail.

Kelly’s role focuses on matching learners with traineeship courses and work placements, and helping young people to become more employable through activities such as practice interviews and CV workshops, to increase the chances of progression to an apprenticeship or a job when the traineeship is complete.

Kelly said: “You often hear about apprenticeships, but not as many people are aware of the benefits of traineeships, which are just as important as apprenticeships in helping young people develop key skills and get into work.

“For individuals, it’s the perfect way to pick up desirable skills which employees look for when they’re hiring – plus the work experience and a good reference is invaluable when you’re looking for work. If they manage to impress during the work placement, then it could lead to employment.

“It also gives young people a second chance of sorts, perhaps they didn’t perform too well at school or weren’t the most academic, traineeships provide that opportunity to get the skills employers look for.

“People come to us with varied skill sets and abilities, so we focus on providing a flexible programme which is tailored and helps get the best out of the individual. So far, I’ve seen two learners complete traineeships and progress onto apprenticeships, as well as one learner who went straight into a job.”

Kelly began working for PHX as an employability advisor and now focuses on coordinating the traineeship programme, keeping learners on track and providing support where needed.

Shirley Williams, development director at PHX Training, said: “The beauty of traineeships is that businesses don’t have to make a big commitment – it’s a good way to give a trial run to potential new staff at no additional cost, with the option of offering an interview at the end of the placement.”

Recent statistics show young people are nearly three times more likely to be unemployed than the rest of the population, with 498,000 people aged between 16-24 not in education or employment.

PHX Training offers a wide range of courses across the North West, combining online resources with face-to-face facilities, at centres in Preston, Barrow, Blackpool, Kendal, Millom, Morecambe, Penrith, Southport, Carlisle and Workington.

Would you use the services of PHX Training to gain necessary skills? Let us know in the comments below.