Businesses and organisations which have enabled young people leaving care to find employment have been recognised for their efforts.
The first ever Supporting Care Leavers into Employment Recognition and Awards saw accolades presented across six categories, with Stoke-on-Trent-based training provider The Spark Group, picking up two of those available, including the Above and Beyond Award.
Organised by Staffordshire County Council and held at Drayton Manor Resort, the event honoured employers, training providers and community organisations that have provided inclusive opportunities for care leavers over the last 12 months.
This year’s award winners are:
- Bronze Quality Mark – Time4Sport
- Silver Quality Mark – JG Fenns and The Stafford Arms
- Gold Quality Mark – 1 Step Beyond, Wedding Belles Love, Axia Solutions, BayNel, Converge, Cosy Direct, Liberty Jamboree and the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Pathway Pioneer Award – Curlita Beauty, The Spark Group and Acacia Training
- Young Future Champions Award – Business Enterprise Support (BES)
- Commitment to Care Award – Reboot IT For All, Staffordshire Community Foundation, Shepherd PR and Free I.T. Stafford
- Above and Beyond Award – The Spark Group
Councillor Martin Murray, deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council and cabinet member for economy and skills, said: “In Staffordshire we want to give everybody the opportunity to thrive, and the people and businesses at this event are those that have supplied training, care, mentorship and placements for care leavers.
“Our local businesses are doing great things, and we’d like to see this event grow to twice the size it is today.
“I would encourage companies across the county to get involved with the Supporting Care Leavers into Employment programme.”
- Staffordshire County Council offers a matching service to businesses looking to support care leavers into employment, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the Care Leavers’ Bursary Fund to support them with training and employment-related costs. Click here to find out more.
