Keyline to provide new employment opportunities for young people with Kickstart Scheme

Keyline Civils Specialist has joined the Government’s Kickstart Scheme – a placement programme designed to support young people into the workforce.

This is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to bridging the skills gap in the construction industry.

Keyline is offering 21 positions for unemployed 16-24 year olds, with initial six month work placements across various divisions within the company, and as part of 800 placements throughout the Travis Perkins Group.

The scheme will run alongside an existing portfolio of apprenticeship and learning and development programmes already offered at Keyline.

The Kickstart Scheme was announced last year, as a Government funded initiative, enabling employers to create new job placements for 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit, who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

Since securing Government approval as a registered Kickstart employer, Keyline has created new positions that include roles in sales, commercial, the yard and more.

Each individual will follow a dedicated course based on a combination of classroom and webinar learning plus practical, hands-on training, delivered with a flexible approach so that each employee’s programme can be tailored and adjusted to work on specific areas, in order to realise their full potential.

Dean Pinner, Managing Director at Keyline, commented: “We are proud to be among the first group of employers in the country to offer this incredible opportunity for young people.

“We recognise the potential here to help foster the next generation of talent and bridge the skills gap. At the same time, for those individuals joining us on this scheme, it will help to open their eyes to the roles available in the construction sector whilst providing them with the skills and confidence to seize career opportunities and enjoy long term employment.

“Even if they choose to follow a path outside of the sector, the transferable skills they learn here, such as those gained from Keyline’s committed customer service ethos, will equip these candidates and their future employers well.

“At a time when this age group is facing rising unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we see this as an even more critical initiative to support the economic recovery and build a more diverse workforce for the future across the business.”