City trailblazers seeking raw talent to fuel drive for success
Three tech-powered Sheffield trailblazers are among the businesses working with The Source Skills Academy to recruit potential new talent via Kickstart.
City, one of the country’s most successful taxi firms, its app-fuelled delivery business City Grab and sister tech company Caboodleit are giving six unemployed young people the chance to get ‘a foot in the door’ with the government’s new work experience scheme.
If they show the right potential during their six-month placements, permanent careers will be on offer.
Kickstart aims to get jobless 16-24-years old receiving Universal Credit on the road to jobs.
“We want to give young people having a difficult time in the pandemic the chance to make their mark with us,” said Arnie Singh, the Sheffield entrepreneur behind the three brands.
Two will be recruited for City Grab, Sheffield’s answer to Deliveroo. The multi-delivery app platform, which charges lower commission and keeps revenue in the local economy, launched in early 2020 and rocketed as demand for takeaways soared in the pandemic.
The service has now made more than 200,000 deliveries and works with 376 city outlets – from Beres the pork sandwich chain to Nonna’s.
Two recruits at Caboodleit, the tech company which launched City Grab, will learn sales and project management as it sells to taxi firms nationally and creates a ‘white label’ tech product tailored for individual food, convenience, and retail outlets.
At City Taxis, two Kickstarters will learn from a vastly experienced team and get an insight into the work ethic needed for success.
Mr Singh is urging other SCR businesses to embrace Kickstart.
“Work experience gives young people the chance to gain experience and prove themselves in the workplace,” he said.
“As an employer, Kickstart gives six months of support as we train people and ensure they are right for us.”
The government funds Kickstart placements, paying the minimum wage for 25 hours a week, N.I and pension contributions and gives businesses grants of £1,500 towards the recruit’s set up and training. Mr Singh is pledging to top up hours and wages to full-time.
Dale Robinson, director of business development at The Source, said: “We are proud to be giving our expertise to City Taxis and Caboodleit, the brains behind City Grab.
“We have now helped more than 65 employers to take on 150 Kickstart recruits.
“Employers who choose us as their training and employment partner can retain the Kickstart grant, while we help their young recruits gain valuable qualifications and key skills.”
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Galaxy reaches for star apprentices with The Source
The Source Skills Academy is providing apprentices across the UK for a hugely successful Sheffield insulation company continuing to grow during the pandemic.
Galaxy Insulation and Dry Lining Limited, a market-leading, independently-owned supplier to the construction sector, decided to launch an apprenticeship scheme to ‘future-proof’ the business.
It discovered high-performing training and skills organisation The Source Academy was on its doorstep at Meadowhall.
Five apprentices, aged 16 to 22, are now in roles across the country and studying for qualifications in customer service, warehousing and business administration.
The Source is recruiting more apprentices for Galaxy and looking to provide fully-funded training and qualifications for other staff. Galaxy is also working with The Source to assist with recruiting unemployed young people for funded six-month placements under the government’s new Kickstart scheme.
Turnover is now in excess of £66million for Galaxy, which employs 220 and has continued to expand during the pandemic.
New branches opened in Bedford and Newcastle in 2020 and another two are planned in the South West this year, bringing the total to 12.
Galaxy started making contributions to the government’s Apprenticeship Levy in the first quarter of 2020 after its annual wages bill hit £3million.
The Levy exists for employers to fund new apprenticeships in England through the Digital Apprenticeship Service.
“Utilising our Levy funds to support an apprenticeship programme is a win on so many levels – we can increase staff and grow the business and, very importantly, give young people a head-start in a very difficult climate,” said Richard Walker, group operations director.
“Our apprenticeship scheme also helps us to future-proof the business, ensuring the skills of highly-experienced and long-serving employees are passed on.
“We are committed to ensuring apprentices can grow careers with us. Our company ethos is: ‘It doesn’t matter where you start – if you work hard you can achieve and climb the ladder’.”
Jack Robinson, 22, joined Galaxy’s Sheffield HQ in January on a Business Admin Level 3 Apprenticeship.
“I was working at a COVID-19 testing centre and was worried the pandemic would stop firms from recruiting,” said Jack.
“That wasn’t the case at Galaxy. I’m very pleased to be part of the team. An apprenticeship is a great opportunity to show an employer what you can do and gain a qualification while you work.”
Dale Robinson, head of business development at The Source, said: “Despite the challenges of the pandemic we enabled job-seekers throughout the country to find roles at Galaxy, a Sheffield-based success story.
“We urge companies to remember that apprenticeship recruitment still plays an important part in business strategy and to contact us. Our apprenticeship success rate ranks in the top tier nationally.”
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Source comes to aid of the First Aiders
Trained First Aiders will be needed more than ever when schools and businesses reopen after lockdown.
An experienced First Aid training provider, The Source Skills Academy has created a dedicated, COVID-safe Learning Zone on the ground floor of its Meadowhall Way premises and resumed its classes on March 1.
Danny Slinn, employment and skills project manager said: “It is absolutely crucial for organisations to get their First Aiders trained or retrained and ensure they have the knowledge to deal with virus infection risks when people return after lockdown.
“There is new COVID-risk avoidance advice for something as simple as dealing with a minor cut to giving rescue breaths. The virus is also badly affecting people’s mental health. Training now includes instruction on how to spot the signs and give support.”
Three-day First Aid At Work courses for new learners and two-day refresher courses for First Aid requalification are running every week.
Courses run under tight health and safety measures. Attendees complete a health questionnaire prior to attending, temperatures are checked on arrival and social distancing is maintained throughout.
Go to www.thesourceacademy.co.uk/commercial-training/first-aid to book, or email training@thesourceacademy.co.uk
