In the wake of Covid-19, young people in Crawley have been hit hard when it comes to the employment opportunities available to them. Rewards Training is stepping up to help combat this deficiency by supporting young people into sustainable employment.

With Crawley’s close proximity to Gatwick Airport, which closed for much of the pandemic, local businesses have struggled with many making staff redundant. This in turn, has limited the amount of employment opportunities available to young people. The furlough (Job Retention) scheme has provided a lifeline for many, Crawley being the place most reliant on the scheme. As the job retention scheme comes to an end, there is potential for further redundancies.

"With 1,400 jobs already gone at the airport - there are going to be more when the furlough scheme unwinds - we've got to be particularly careful to protect young people in the community.”

Andrew Ayres, Director of Rewards Training

Rewards Training is working closely with local business and young people in the area ensuring that young people have the skills and knowledge required to secure sustainable employment, in a dramatically changed job market. Rewards is able to offer support to young people in the area by being in the fairly unique position to offer Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Employability training programmes across a variety of different sectors.

“We're seeing an initial demand in the hospitality sector as that comes out of hibernation, but other sectors will be slower to come back. We really need to make young people aware of the schemes that are out there.”

Andrew Ayres, Director of Rewards Training

Many young people leaving school this simmer will struggle to secure employment in the current market. Those in this situation are encouraged to take up apprenticeships or traineeships to enable them to make a strong start to their career and learn the skills needed to be successful in their chosen sector.

“At Rewards Training we are dedicated to supporting young people into sustainable employment, doing so though our range of Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Employability training programmes. Young people are the future of our country, and it is vital that are able to make a strong and successful start to their careers.”

Marion Ward, CEO of Rewards Training