Minister for Employment visits Yorkshire Water

The Minister for Employment, Mims Davies, visited Yorkshire Water’s Esholt Wastewater Treatment Works on Tuesday.  

During her visit the minister was able to meet some of the company’s current apprentices, hear about Yorkshire Water’s training academy and learn about its involvement in the Kickstart scheme.  

Yorkshire Water recently announced a partnership with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and trade unions to employ 75 young people on the Kickstart scheme.   

Kickstart is a job creation scheme helps 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit secure fixed term contracts, in order to gain work experience and embark on a potential career. The water company will offer roles across its business, including within its customer experience team, land and property department and flooding resilience team. Every Kickstarter that successfully completes the programme is guaranteed a job interview for a role within the company.   

Trade unions will assist the water company by providing monthly sessions to help with challenges faced in a return to work situation or first-time employment, monthly career workshops and CV support.  

Following her visit to Yorkshire Water, Mims Davies MP, said: “It was brilliant to meet the Yorkshire Water team and see first-hand the innovative training and work opportunities being created for local people, including through the DWP Kickstart Scheme and new apprenticeships.  

“From Shipley to Scarborough, right across Yorkshire our Plan for Jobs is boosting skills and job prospects for people of all ages as we push to build back better.” 

Gillian Mason, head of organisational development at Yorkshire Water, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Mims Davies to our Esholt site and talk to her about our commitments to the Kickstart scheme, our academy and our apprenticeship programme.  

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming 75 Kickstarters to the business over the next year. We are committed to giving them as much training and support as we can, starting with a guaranteed interview for a role in the company for everyone who successfully completes the six-month scheme.”