Member Article

Innovative youth recruitment agency celebrates first birthday

A local youth recruitment agency is celebrating its birthday and a great first year in business in its new office.

Rising Star, based in South Shields, is a youth recruitment and training aiming to tackle youth unemployment by engaging young people and employers in a mutually beneficial partnership.

Rising Star, sister company to Hebburn based recruitment business Zenith People, piloted its apprenticeship recruitment bootcamp over two years ago in South Tyneside and now see it being adopted throughout the North East and this week sees them celebrate their first year in their premises.

The Rising Star team, formerly based in Hebburn, felt that they needed to be more accessible to its customer base and therefore moved to an office the heart of South Shields Town Centre.

Since opening their doors in March last year, hundreds of young people have called in for advice or attended one of their recruitment bootcamps.

The Bootcamps, which are designed to inform and excite young people about the benefits of apprenticeships, as well as equipping attendees with the skills needed to secure employment and enter a working environment with confidence and professional work behaviours, have been delivered in County Durham and more recently Teesside.

As well as spreading into new territory they have also just this year delivered bespoke apprenticeship bootcamps for North East Ambulance Service providing them with five Patient Transport Apprentices.

Other major employers that have also chosen Rising Star to deliver bespoke apprenticeship bootcamps include Gentoo, Willmott Dixon, Xiscad Training, Barbour, Ford Components and Port of Tyne.

There have been five Port of Tyne Bootcamps since 2013, with 72% of attendees having gained employment within the Port of Tyne in roles such as Warehouse and Port Operations, Security, Accountancy and Engineering. With success rates like that no wonder there are a further two Port of Tyne Bootcamps scheduled for this summer.

Port of Tyne HR Manager, Louise Tinkler said: “The Port of Tyne is committed to developing young people and this initiative through our partnership with Rising Star is a fantastic opportunity to deliver skills that can ultimately increase young people’s chances of getting a job.

“Everyone who graduated from the programme was guaranteed an interview with the Port of Tyne for numerous apprenticeship vacancies. And even those who are unsuccessful will be supported by Rising Star to help find alternative employment.”

Shannon Teasdale, who gained an apprenticeship with Port of Tyne by attending a recruitment bootcamp, said: “I would definitely recommend Rising Star to friends and family! The support and encouragement you receive during and afterwards is invaluable, but you must be prepared to put your all into it if you want the best out of it.

“The whole Rising Star team were excellent! I got on with them really well. We could all have a laugh but when we needed to crack on with the work we did so. It was a good balance of fun and seriousness.”

Overall Rising Star has placed 161 young people into either an Apprenticeship, Traineeship or full time employment and the number will hopefully double this time next year with the plans already set in place for this year.

Angela Anderson, Managing Director of Rising Star and Zenith People, said: “It’s been a fantastic year – we’ve worked with some brilliant young people and inspirational employers.

“It’s such a satisfying experience being able to bring them together.

“The word has been spreading regarding the effectiveness of our recruitment bootcamps – both with young people in terms of funding work or an apprenticeship, and with employers in terms of finding great, work ready young people for their organisations.

“This is why 12 months ago we felt it was important to open a dedicated Rising Star office where young people, parents and employers could go to get the support they need.

“This means we’re busier than ever and we’re now expanding our services across the region.

“Year 2 is looking extremely exciting!”

For more information on Rising Star’s Apprenticeship Bootcamps and their vacancies please contact the team on 0191 427 4651 or visit www.zenithrisingstar.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gordon Wallis .