BOURNEMOUTH'S Poole Hill Brewery is looking for businesses to join up to co-operatively access the government’s Kickstart Scheme.

This is a new initiative which provides funding for employers to create employment and training opportunities for young people who are currently out of work.

The scheme’s aim is to provide support for those seeking to build skills in employment using traineeships, sector-based work academy placements and apprenticeships.

Brewery founder Jennifer Tingay is hoping to use the Kickstart scheme to begin training four young apprentices in a growth industry.

“The chance to gain my qualifications as a brewer while working as the quality control technician at Ringwood’s Brewery was the most beneficial employment opportunity imaginable at the time.

"It wasn’t easy working full time and studying for complex chemistry, biology and engineering focussed exams, and as I could only study evenings and weekends the house was full of notes, diagrams and lists for months.

"By undertaking home study with some formal training in industry training centres around the UK, and along with appropriate work experience at the brewery I was able to qualify. I would be very pleased to repay that opportunity by training some junior brewers myself."

The scheme takes the form of hundreds of thousands of six-month work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit and deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.

Funding available for each job will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.

It is only possible to access the Kickstart scheme in blocks of 30 employees, which means that small companies like Poole Hill Brewery need to form a group with other businesses.

Jennifer said: “So far only one local company has expressed an interest so we have accounted for eight potential places with 22 to go."

"With a little organisation it would be possible to form a group of several small companies who only require one or two staff, or find a larger company who might allow us a slice out of their block of 30.

If anyone is interested in forming a Kickstart group contact Jennifer on 01202557583 or email brewer@southbourneales.co.uk