SEVENTEEN previously unemployed people have been given a fresh start after landing jobs with a new homeware store in York.

The group is now on the payroll at the new HomeSense store at Foss Islands Retail Park following help from employment and skills specialists Working Links.

Most were trained for the roles through Working Links’ Routes Into Work programme – part of the Government’s flagship scheme to help young people gain employment, funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

Official figures put the number of NEETs – young people not in education, employment or training – at 776,000.

The tailored courses provided people with relevant retail and customer service skills, making them perfect candidates for roles at the new store.

One of the group, 20-year-old David Hall, of York, said: “I hadn’t worked for about ten months and had a bit of retail experience before, but it was great to update my skills.

“The course was great. We were taught some very good interview skills and bits and bobs about how to approach companies and get the job – and it worked.”

Nicky Ireland, performance manager for Working Links’ Routes into Work, said: “Our specially-trained tutors work closely with each employer to identify their business needs and then combine this with industry best practice provided by Sector Skills Councils.

“That way the employers know that they are getting people trained to do the job from day one.”

Lindsay Jackson, manager of the York HomeSense store, said: “Working with Working Links was a very positive experience. What I appreciated the most was the fantastic customer service they delivered. They really did bend over backwards to find us the right people for the opportunities we had available, asking us lots of questions to understand our business.

“I’m proud to say the team we now have in our store is doing well and our new store is proving more and more popular by the day.”

The Routes Into Work initiative covers jobs in retail, travel, tourism, hospitality and leisure, security and facilities management. To find out more about Working Links phone 0800 917 9262 or visit workinglinks.co.uk