A pioneering scheme to help young people prepare for the world of work and improve Swindon’s pool of talented labour is to be launched in the town.
Backed by employers and run by Back on Track Teens, the scheme’s two-day courses will help the young delegates better understand their strengths and interests and steer them towards careers they will enjoy and excel in.
The Work Ready courses will also be held in places of work, to give participants a taste of what it is like to be in employment.
Businesses sponsoring the courses will then be able to select from a pool of talented, work-ready young people when they need to recruit. 
Swindon chartered accountants Banks is co-sponsoring the first course on March 17 and 18, which will be held at its Stratton offices and run by Back on Track Teens’ founder TeeJay Dowe.
Also co-sponsoring the course is Talent Dynamics, a development training company which helps individuals and teams work effectively and on which the Back on Track Teens courses are based.
TeeJay, pictured, said: “The biggest challenge that young people face today is that they have low self-confidence and cannot see their worth to an employer, or they have so many options and opportunities that they have no clear vision and are confused about the jobs or careers that would suit them best.
“Work Ready will allow young people to better understand their strengths so that they can confidently talk about themselves at interview and give them the experience of working together on a business project to better understand what is expected of them in a work-place.
“It’s about enabling them to discover what they are capable of, knowing what an employer is looking for and showing up with the right attitude.”
Banks director Richard Mathews added: “We like to employ locally where we can, so anything which helps young people in the town to find out what they are good at and what they want to do can only improve the talent of the pool of potential recruits.”
Thanks to business sponsorship, each Work Ready course is free, and is open to 18 to 23 year olds living in the Swindon area.
Back on Track Teens is seeking business sponsors for its next courses. In return it will offer in-house Talent Dynamics development training as well as access to the young people when they need to recruit.
For more information, visit www.backontrackteens.com or email teejay@backontrackteens.com.
