// John Lewis Partnership plans to support young people leaving the care system to find jobs
// The retailer aims to become employer of choice for young people
John Lewis Partnership has laid out plans to support young people leaving the care system to “find meaningful jobs”.
The partnership said young people are too often overlooked by employers and its long term ambition is to become the employer of choice particularly during the cost-of-living crisis.
It is creating a “Building Happier Futures” employment programme, which will employ more care experienced people in more parts of the country.
The group will work with small businesses, charities and community organisations that want to hire or further the career of someone who is care experienced.
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John Lewis will also launch dedicated apprenticeships for care leavers and offer financial support for young people who have been in care to pursue further or higher education.
The retail giant is supporting the calls being made by care experienced people for government action and investment to improve the life chances of young people.
The calls are urging the government to give young people in care a right to a continuous caring presence, regardless of age or postcode, and a portion of the significant amount in unspent apprenticeship levy should be used to provide targeted support for those leaving care to be able to afford to pursue further education.
For the last 18 months, John Lewis has been working with councils and charities in Manchester, Birmingham, London, Nottingham and Essex to provide training and employment in John Lewis and Waitrose stores to care experienced young people.
“The John Lewis Partnership from its very foundations has always had a strong social purpose – providing healthcare before the NHS,” John Lewis Partnership chair, Sharon White said.
“We want over time to become the employer of choice for young people leaving the care system. We know they make fantastic Partners (employees) and we can in turn provide the opportunity for meaningful work and the chance to progress.
“We would love to join forces with other businesses wishing to recruit so we can help more young people.”
