Launch of JobShops at MidKent College

Located at both the Medway and Maidstone Campuses, the JobShops will advertise vacancies as well as ease the recruitment challenges facing local employers by matching them up with suitable candidates.

They will also offer tailored support to help students with application forms, interview techniques, CV-writing and more.

Henry Nydam – chairman of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce – officially opened the Medway Campus JobShop at a ceremony on Thursday (19 January).

He said: “With youth unemployment at record levels it has become incumbent on all educational and business organisations to do all we can to address the situation.

“We need to give young people some hope that they will be able to advance their careers, and something like the JobShop will be a fantastic help.

“It’s a one-stop shop for information, advice and guidance, and I urge all local employers looking for skilled staff to make full use of it.”

Government figures released earlier this week show that there are now more than a million young people without a job in the UK.

This means the unemployment rate in the 16-24-year-old age bracket now stands at 22.3 per cent.

MidKent College hopes to help tackle the problem with the launch of its JobShops, which will only match employers with students who have fulfilled set criteria to ensure they are capable.

Principal Stephen Grix said: “Once our students achieve the skills and qualifications they came to College for, we want them to be able to move on and have bright careers.

“The new JobShops will help them do that, while also providing a service to local employers by giving them access to young people who will be an asset to their organisations.”

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For all media enquiries, please contact Steve Knight, Marketing and Communications Officer, on 01634 383277 or email steve.knight@midkent.ac.uk.