Waste management scheme launched for unemployed Londoners

A new training scheme, called The Kotuku Environmental Labour Project (KELP), has been launched in London in an attempt to get the young unemployed into full time, long term work.

The training project hopes to teach these individuals about the basic skills needed to work in the waste management sector, before matching them with work opportunities to focus on their strengths.

It has recently been reported that the scheme has been awarded Lottery funding for two-and-a-half years, which will mean that more young Londoners can be trained up.

The Lottery funding will go towards ten employment courses, which will give 60 unemployed candidates an opportunity to find work in the waste and recycling sector, letsrecycle.com reports.

The non-profit organisation was set up by Andrew Pears MCIWM from environmental consultancy Kotuku last July.

Training days for the course were held at his London-based waste management firm, where two candidates were put on placements.

Simon Little, sales and marketing director at Powerday, told letsrecycle.com: "We are very pleased to see this great initiative secure funding for the next two years. KELP not only addresses the issues that prevent young people entering the workforce but also provides an attractive proposition for employers.

"Powerday has a commitment to giving young people a chance and this project enables us to do just that as we expand our business."

Two courses have already been held, with a 60 per cent for candidate completion.

Although not 100 per cent, according to Mr Kotuku, this is a "significantly higher" percentage than government back-to-work schemes.

Thanks to the Lottery funding, the scheme will be running until at least 2015.

Andrew Pears, director of Kotuku and KELP said: "We are delighted to have secured the Lottery Funding to enable us to continue to help London’s young unemployed and improve the prospects of our candidates.

"These candidates have great ability and aptitude if encouraged and supported and this funding enables us to focus our efforts on giving them a chance to move their lives forward."