Fresh hope for 20 out-of-work youths

The graduates of the YouthBuild programme, run by the Shipley-based B&N Group, were put through a comprehensive training programme before taking up placements with major local employers.

The six-month scheme included personal development, computer training, an outdoor residential, numeracy and literacy skills and tips on job applications.

Speaking at an event to mark the completion of the scheme, 18-year-old Arshad Iqbal, of Great Horton, Bradford, told how his life had been turned around by the project. Formerly a part-time worker in a fast food bar, he has now secured a full-time job as a processing assistant at the Yorkshire Building Society.

"I was doing nothing and going nowhere until I received this letter asking me to come to the project," he said. "The first two months really helped to understand why I had been failing in the past and that helped to me to gain full time employment. Now I have ambitions to move up as high as I can."

Other organisations which offered placements for youngsters taking part in the scheme included Abbey, Inland Revenue, Yorkshire Forward, HSBC, Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Bradford and Bradford Trident.

"This has been a really successful scheme that has done wonders for these young people," said Nawaz Khan, YouthBuild training and employment co-ordinator. "They had all been unemployed, their school attainment was low and they faced all sorts of problems."

B&N chief executive Martin Kelly said the firm was delighted to support the scheme, which was funded by the Learning and Skills Council through a partnership with Employers Racing Ahead. He was amazed by some of the individual success stories and said he was keen to see it rolled out in other areas.

"As a social enterprise community investment business, we see the need to ensure we impact on the wider community, not just in our core business of social housing," said Mr Kelly.