Eight young men who have just completed a ground breaking initiative aimed at giving young people the chance to work with one of County Durham’s largest employers have just received an early Christmas present with the offer of a job!

The eight 16 to 18 year olds, who took part in the Esh Connexts programme, have received a letter offering them at least six months paid work and learning with Esh Group, starting on Monday 11th January 2010.

An innovative pilot programme, funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, enabled the young men to gain new skills and on-the-job experience to help them improve their lives, their understanding of the workplace and their job prospects.

The programme, which was developed by Esh Group working with Connexions, focused on supporting young people from the Durham and Chester-le-Street areas whose lives have been affected by a variety of personal, social or cultural issues.

Delivered for two days a week over a 10 week period, the young men learned through classroom based activities and on-the-job work experience in their chosen work placements within Esh Group.

Each was given a different area of work and they gained work experience specific to their particular interests, from plumbing and engineering to electrical maintenance and installation and to marketing. The placements were carried out with a number of Esh Group companies including Lumsden & Carroll Construction, Wilkinson Facilities Services and Dunelm Homes.

During their studies they all also worked towards an Emergency First Aid and Firefighting techniques certificate.

At an awards day at the end of the programme each received a certificate from the partners involved in the scheme in recognition for the skills they have acquired.

Chris Roberts, Regional Director, LSC North East, said: "For most of these young people this has been their first experience of a working environment. We hope it will encourage them to undertake further training to enable them to acquire the wider skills that are needed to fill the skills gap when the economy recovers. Esh Connexts project has been about making them much more aware of the world of work and its opportunities as well as making the most of their interests and talent."

As well as the backing and commitment from Esh Group, the new jobs have been made possible thanks to Durham County Council’s economic regeneration team and the Durham and Chester-le-Street Local Children’s Board.

Both organisations agreed to match fund the programme in line with the Future Jobs Fund which offers subsidies to employers towards training and employing 18 to 24 year olds in receipt of job seekers allowance. It is hoped that this model will be used to help young people in the region in the future.

Chris Peverall, Delivery Manager for the Durham and Chester le Street Connexions Centre said: "This exciting venture underlines what working in partnership with employers can do to enhance the skills and future employability prospects of our young people. We are looking forward to continuing to develop this good working relationship with Esh Group, one of County Durham’s biggest and most prestigious companies.

"Esh Group’s example is one we hope others will follow. It will be wonderful if permanent jobs can be offered, however, the real experience of work and learning in context is valuable in itself. This initiative will have improved the life chances of these young people and placed them in a much stronger position going forward."

Brian Manning, Chief Executive of Esh Group, added: "We are very happy to be involved in this ambitious project with Connexions and are very pleased to be able to work with, support and help these young people whom we hope will prove to be future success stories. We are delighted to be able to offer them the chance to work and train with us for six months in the New Year and look forward to welcoming them and to seeing them progress further.