Employers and football clubs set training goals

02/12/2009

Four Premier League football clubs have joined forces with local employers to offer a new scheme designed to get people back into work.

The ‘Premier League into Work’ scheme is supported Chelsea, Everton, Sunderland and Portsmouth football clubs, as well as the Premier League and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

It aims to give jobseekers the skills and abilities they need to find work, while also improving their fitness levels and football skills.

The courses will focus on areas such as interview skills, job search techniques, CV preparation, health and fitness, and soccer training. Each course will last 10 weeks and participants will undertake a two-week work placement. Employers in sectors such as hospitality, catering, transport, mechanics and local radio are involved.

The programme was announced by Jim Knight, the employment minister, at Chelsea FC's stadium Stamford Bridge yesterday. He was joined by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and Jon Sheehy of The New Football Pools.

“The project uses football coaching and wider training courses to develop skills and boost confidence which are vital to help people prepare for the workplace,” Knight said.

"Premier League into Work is a unique opportunity for jobseekers to improve their self-esteem, work skills and fitness levels. People on the course will work closely with football clubs and local employers to improve their chances of finding a job."

Candidates for the courses will be identified by the Jobcentre and are open to anyone who has been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more.