Rotork hosts Deputy Prime Minister’s roundtable on young unemployed
10/12/2009
Rotork’s head office was the venue for a meeting on 7th December between Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and business leaders in Bath to encourage them to get young unemployed people earning or learning through a flagship government programme.
At the meeting business leaders heard directly from the Deputy Prime Minister about the Youth Contract, a £1bn programme to tackle youth unemployment through new jobs and training. The Deputy Prime Minister heard from businesses in Bath who are already supporting young unemployed people through the Youth Contract as well as speaking to employers and local business leaders to encourage them to follow suit.
After the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister went on a tour of Rotork, to see its manufacturing processes and meet with apprentices and staff. Since the company began, Rotork has supported young people with an award winning programme for apprentices, many of whom have developed into senior managers. Rotork is also engaged with local schools, colleges and universities as part of the Bath Education Trust that focuses on developing employability.
Chief Executive Peter France commented: “We are very proud of our apprentice scheme with the programme designed to develop each individual in order for them to progress to their full potential. Each year we take on new apprentices and we currently have 23 apprentices in the UK.”
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “I’m determined to tackle youth unemployment and am urging businesses in Bath to come on board and join me in doing so. Business has a huge role to play in supporting young unemployed people and getting them earning or learning. I’m grateful to the businesses in Bath who came along today and look forward to hearing about how the Youth Contract is progressing in the area.”
In the photograph Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is seen talking to Rotork apprentices James Gale and Jasper Barrett with the Member of Parliament for Bath Don Foster.