Positive Futures programme "making a real difference"

“It was fantastic to see how this project is making a real difference to the lives of young people at risk of social exclusion.

Young people in Warwickshire are being helped into work by Positive Futures, a training scheme targeting 15 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training who do not have basic maths and English qualifications.

Funded by the European Social Fund, with 50% match-funding from Warwickshire County Council and PET-Xi-Training, the training course is helping to break down barriers to entering the jobs market for young people.

Deputy Director, Head of European Social Fund Division at the Department for Work and Pensions (the managing authority for ESF), Dr Catherine Blair visited young people taking part in the training course to see first-hand the support offered by the training and education specialists.  

Since its launch in 2016, the project has seen over 350 young people secure jobs or enrol in education on completion of Positive Futures. The programme, launched by PET-Xi Training, has an ambition to support a further 400 young people move into employment or education.

Along with Glenn Robinson, manager of the Skills for Growth programme run by Warwickshire County Council, Dr Blair was given a tour of PET-Xi Training’s headquarters in Coventry by the project’s managing director Fleur Sexton.

After meeting employees, Dr Blair visited PET-Xi Training’s new Skills Hub in Nuneaton to hear more about the Positive Futures project and the impact it has had on participants’ lives.

Dr Blair said: “It was fantastic to see how this project is making a real difference to the lives of young people at risk of social exclusion.

“Staff can offer young people practical advice on a range of issues, including employment, and support individuals with their next steps such as moving or providing transport to interviews.

“Youth unemployment is at a record low and it’s great to see the difference projects like this make, helping more young people move into work or education."

Fleur Sexton said: “It was fantastic to welcome Dr Blair and Glenn to PET-Xi Training to show them first-hand the benefits of the project.

“The feedback we have had from everyone involved, whether it is young people or funders, has been extremely positive. The Department of Work and Pensions and Warwickshire County Council have helped to fund this essential project which is making a real difference to young people’s lives.”

Cllr Colin Hayfield, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning at Warwickshire County Council, said: "The county council has prioritised young people who are at risk of social exclusion and has established a planning and co-ordination group where we liaise with partners such as PET-Xi Training to provide our young people with the support in areas where it is most needed."