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'Apprentices' in the Dragons' Den
YOUNGSTERS on the hunt for their first jobs were given a second chance to re-invent themselves at a groundbreaking Sheffield summer school.
With unemployment steadily reaching an all-time high, the worst-hit are young school leavers who are finding it hardest of all to pick up work in today's harsh economic climate.
And those without first class GCSE qualifications are more than likely to find themselves jobless.
To combat the problem Sheffield Council's lifelong learning and skills department decided to run a summer course with the aim of helping to turn around the lives of some of the city's most vulnerable young people.
Over the last few weeks more than 50 youngsters have been taking part in the personal development programme which aims to give them the key skills necessary for the world of work.
Workshops followed a 'Dragons Den' meets 'The Apprentice' format, and youngsters who had been more or less written off are now hopeful the new work and confidence skills they have learned will unlock doors for them.
A graduation ceremony for those completing the course was held at Sheffield Hallam University.
One youngster who joined the course was Gemma Gelsskiy, aged 17, from Parson Cross, who has been struggling to find work since she left Yewlands Technology College two years ago.
Despite sending out hundreds of CVs for jobs, she did not get one call back.
But the three-week course has changed her outlook and she is now confident she can reach her goal of becoming a social worker. She has already signed up for a college course starting next month. She said: "I have really been struggling to get work. My GCSEs were okay but despite that I have really struggled to try and get work. I did glass collecting for a while at a local pub but then I was laid off as they were struggling with money.
"It has been rubbish really with no job, no income support, and having to still rely on my mum. But this course has really turned a corner for me.''
Coun Andrew Sangar, Cabinet member for children's services, said: "It is a particularly tough market out there for anyone trying to get work these days.
"And it is even tougher if you don't have the necessary qualifications to get you through the interview door. We welcome programmes like this and want to see more progressive work done to re-engage some of our most vulnerable young people - everyone deserves a second chance."
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