On Thursday, 21st July, John Biggs Mayor of Tower Hamlets, took part in a telethon, hosted by global recruitment specialist PageGroup at its offices in Moorgate, to help boost the number of blue chip work experience opportunities for Tower Hamlets students. Working alongside a team of PageGroup recruiters, together they succeeded in securing 70 placements to support the 1000 Club, an initiative run by leading education charity Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership.The 1000 Club aims to secure 1000 work experience placements in 2016 - specifically at City and Canary Wharf firms - for Tower Hamlets students aged 14 to 18. It follows the highly successful 750 Club launched by the charity in 2015 and represents a radical shift in how major firms provide work experience opportunities to students from less advantaged backgrounds. Prior to the 750 Club, large businesses contributed only 8% of the overall number of work experience placements needed by schools in the borough. Today, thanks to this initiative, that number sits at 25% and is expected to grow further with the 1000 Club initiative.John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets says, “I was delighted to work alongside PageGroup consultants to secure work placements for students that might not have had the opportunity otherwise. It is imperative that young people growing up in Tower Hamlets feel engaged with the business world that sits on their doorstep. In many cases, the City still doesn’t look towards the East End for recruitment, so this is a great opportunity to break down barriers and get people into the workplace.“I would like to thank both PageGroup and the Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership for playing a vital role in bridging the gap between businesses and schools, facilitating the work experience process and making it easier than ever to get involved.”Simon Lindrea, Regional Director, PageGroup says, “Thursday’s telethon was not only a huge success but it created a real buzz throughout our office. Working with Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership fully supports our Page Talent community programme which sees a number of consultants working with schools across the UK to help provide career skills such as preparing CVs, interview tips and advice. We would like to thank the Mayor of Tower Hamlets for joining our team. It was great support for us and helped boost the number of placements we made on the day that ultimately contributes to the 1000 club.”Helen Sanson, Director of Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership stated, “We are enormously grateful to PageGroup for hosting the telethon and to all of the volunteers including Mayor John Biggs who gave their time to support the 1000 Club. Their efforts have made a real difference to the team at Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership and the young people in the borough who face significant barriers entering the labour market.”Corporate placements ensure that the current and next generation of young people from Tower Hamlets will be inspired to aim for jobs within the economic power-houses of the City of London and Canary Wharf. The 1000 Club focuses on building ongoing relationships with schools, offering job opportunities to students and providing them with an experience that they will never forgot and will shape them for the years to come.Companies wishing to pledge work experience placements for the 1000 Club should contact Chloe Dalton at Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership. Email: Chloe.Dalton@thebp.co.uk Telephone: 020 7655 0300
