This page is archived.
Youth Pledge for Employers Project
We are Youth Pledge for Employers and we are a project, part-funded by the European Social Fund, running right here in Norfolk and Suffolk. We are all about wanting to bring young people locally (and everywhere in fact) work inspiration, experience, and employment opportunities.
Our team of Business Connectors in Norfolk and Suffolk go out and ask local businesses to help young people by offering to do talks, tours, taster days or mentoring or by providing apprenticeships, work experience or trials or even employment. We try to work with businesses to work out what they can offer – everyone can do something as it takes less than half an hour to do a talk with us.
We even have an Opportunities Connector who then takes all those brilliant opportunities and shares them with organisations who help young people. These include schools, colleges, job centres, other projects, voluntary, community and social enterprises so we all work together to create a network of information and resources to help young people across the region.
Supporting Businesses
We want to help SMEs across the region connect with young people – our team of Business Connector can work 1-1 with you to create an opportunity that is right for your organisation. You may be looking to develop a corporate social responsibility programme or just want to help young people in your area when you can. We’ve got you covered. Our Business Connectors will help you set up a page here on icanbea... to showcase your business to the 5000+ young people and their families a month who access the site, helping raise awareness of all the great companies that exist on our doorstep.
Here, you can also share information about the type of support you are offering to young people. Many of our employers choose to do an online talk with us. We record it and add it to your business page as well as sharing it to our 24/7 Careers Fair pages. These recordings not only help young people find out more information about local careers, it also helps you promote the skills and experiences you use in your organisation, a handy tool to have whenever you need to recruit. Organisations may go on to offer other opportunities too like workplace tours, work experience, apprenticeships or employment.
If you are not sure where to start, do have chat to your local Business Connector (see section below). We have also produced a YPFE Employer Handbook to get you thinking about the different ways you can support young people. All our handbooks are digital, helping us to reduce our carbon footprint. However, if you do need the information in a different format, please get in touch with us at the email address below.
You can also raise your inclusion game by becoming a Disability Confident employer. It is a Government Scheme and is much easier than you think to get involved. Click here to see our YPFE guide to all things DC and visit here to find out more about how to sign up https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/ . If you join YPFE and become a DC employer, you will get a DC tag making it easier for other organisations or young people looking for opportunities to find you.
We have produced further information for Suffolk Employers about how you can provide additional help to some of our young people who need it most.
Meet the Team
Gawain
Business Connector
"Having worked in Management, Sales, and Recruitment for over 30 years, I decided to switch sectors and lend my skills set to helping young people identify and achieve their professional ambitions. Joining the Digital Youth Hub with the Mason Trust, I helped to realise the aspirations of over 150 young people. Qube Learning then gave me a unique understanding of the Pre-employment space, as well support organisations and referral agencies. I’m now delighted to be in a position to apply my experience to the Youth Pledge - showcasing companies that are committed to engaging the talent of the future to ensure prosperity for themselves and the larger communities that they serve! I am partial to mead and cake in equal measure."
gawain.fraser@suffolk.gov.uk
01473 264756
Suzanne Couszins (Suffolk)
Business Connector for Suffolk
"Before starting at the council, I had previously spent around 10 years in recruitment, working within Oil & Gas, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Rail Engineering, Healthcare and recruiting recruitment consultants. I love working with businesses to create opportunities for young people locally. I have also spent 2 years living in Sydney and Melbourne and travelled South East Asia. My idea of fun is a crime drama and baked goods."
Suzanne.Couszins@suffolk.gov.uk
01473 264408
Zina Mohn (Norfolk)
Business Connector for Kings’ Lynn and West Norfolk, North Norfolk and Breckland
"I am extremely passionate about creating careers resources and opportunities for young people in Norfolk and supporting local employers to achieve their recruitment and training goals to support the local economy. I have a number of years’ experience in employer engagement and working with stakeholder organisations in order to achieve a positive outcome and support those who need it the most."
Zina.mohn@norfolk.gov.uk
01603 638321
Jan Cockburn (Norfolk)
Business Connector for Broadland, South Norfolk, Norwich and Great Yarmouth
"Working across the region in several different roles, I have extensive experience of both engaging and supporting employers as well as working with young people and schools. It matters to me to make a difference and I love working on this project as I get to help SMEs and young people too!"
Janet.cockburn@norfolk.gov.uk
01603 307768
Chris Adlem (Norfolk & Suffolk)
Opportunities Connector
"My role involves working with organisations who support or train young people to connect them with opportunities created by the project. My passions include upskilling young people and providing opportunities for collaborative working wherever possible. I am a forward thinking, creative problem solver who loves a challenge! All skills which I have honed in my spare time as a Performer and Coach of Improv Comedy."
If you have any questions about the project, our videos, want to send praise or make a complaint, please get in touch with us youthpledgeforemployers@norfolk.gov.uk You can reach out to us here if you need any information in an additional format too.
