Co-op creates apprenticeship academy

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A new apprenticeship academy is at the heart of a £21m campaign from the Co-operative Group to create a ‘cultural shift’ in the perception and treatment of young people in the UK.

The Co-op group – whose services include the food, banking and travel sectors – will create 2,000 new apprenticeships over two years as part of its Inspiring Young People programme.

The academy will offer apprentices work experience across its portfolio of businesses and the chance to work towards an NVQ or similar qualification.

Recruits will be trained in the cooperative business model and introduced to the group’s social goals programme.

The overall campaign is aimed at inspiring under-25s to become active citizens, and will include a £1m investment in a national programme to help young people in deprived areas to deliver sports coaching.

The group will spend £1m on expanding the number of Co-operative Trust schools, £1.5m on its Green Schools scheme and invest £2m on Truth about Youth, a national programme to challenge perceptions about young people.

Peter Marks, group chief executive, urged the UK to start viewing young people as the solution rather than the problem.

‘Sadly as a society we harbour a widespread negative attitude towards young people which doesn’t encourage or inspire them,’ he said.

‘We believe it is exactly these attitudes that need to change rather than the all too common view that young people have an attitude problem.’

• Research from Community Links published last week found little evidence of stereotypical attitudes among young people not in employment education or training (Neet). It interviewed 36 young people in east London, and found that, rather than being unwilling to work, many were struggling to find appropriate work experience to help them start their careers.