Thousands of young people, currently shut out of work, will get their first break after waste giant Biffa announced plans today Thursday 12 November to recruit 2,000 new roles across their growing operation.
Up to 2,000 opportunities for young people announced across the UK in roles across waste management, recycling and green energy.
Biffa, one of the UK’s largest waste companies, joins a growing list of household names, including John Lewis, Premier League, Lidl and Mitchells & Butlers, supporting the government’s Youth Guarantee to get young people into work.
Government backs Biffa’s commitment as part of its drive to deliver almost one million chances for young people to earn or learn, powered by £2.5 billion of investment in youth employment.
Thousands of young people, currently shut out of work, will get their first break after waste giant Biffa announced plans today Thursday 12 November to recruit 2,000 new roles across their growing operation.
Turning waste into opportunity, Biffa has also announced it has signed up to the Government’s Youth Guarantee to offer the roles to young people currently shut out of work, giving them a route into sustainable careers.
Biffa follows Amazon, McDonald’s and Severn Trent in supporting the government’s Youth Guarantee to deliver almost one million opportunities for young people to earn or learn as part of a £2.5 billion investment in the next generation.
The new roles will span everything from Driver’s Mate positions and recycling operations to green energy, sustainability and specialist teams, with further opportunities available across Biffa’s wider businesses, including Company Shop Group.
The aim is for every young person to go on to a permanent role. Where there is no vacancy at the end of a placement, the “Biffa Next Gen” scheme will, with the young person’s permission, share their details with Biffa’s supply chain and partner organisations to help them find work.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:
Every young person deserves the chance to succeed, whatever their background.
It’s fantastic to see more businesses like Biffa offering up to 2,000 jobs alongside dedicated mentors to support more young people to build lasting careers.
Through our Youth Guarantee and £2.5 billion youth employment support package, we’re backing young people with the skills, support and opportunities they need. On my watch, no young person’s talent will be left on the scrapheap.
Further support for businesses who want to get involved in the Youth Guarantee will have a new Large Employer Pathway to make it much easier for employers to offer jobs to young people.
Employers will only have to sign up once, rather than going through separate checks with different delivery partners, and a dedicated team will be on hand to support them from their first application through to taking part in the schemes.
Every young person taken on by the company will also be paired with a dedicated mentor working the same shift pattern, helping them settle in, build confidence and succeed from day one.
To mark the new partnership, Pat McFadden will visit Biffa’s Waste Management site in North London to meet staff and apprentices and see first-hand the type of roles the 2,000 new recruits will be doing at sites across the UK.
Allison Green, Chief People Officer of Biffa said:
“We are delighted to be supporting the Government’s Youth Guarantee programme and helping more young people take their first steps towards a rewarding career. Working closely with Jobcentre Plus and local partners, we are opening doors to opportunities across our business for young people who may never have considered a career in the waste and resources sector.”
“Too many young people, including school leavers and university graduates, are struggling to find a route into employment despite having the talent and ambition to succeed. Through this commitment, we are helping to remove some of those barriers by providing meaningful work experience, practical skills and real career pathways in a growing green industry.”
“Creating opportunities for local people is a core part of the social value we deliver through our contracts. By investing in young people today, we can help strengthen local economies, support regional growth and ensure the next generation has the skills needed to build successful careers while contributing to a more sustainable future. We are proud to stand alongside other major UK employers backing the Youth Guarantee and playing our part in helping more young people access the opportunities, experience and support they need to thrive.”
Biffa employs around 13,000 people at about 300 locations across the UK. It supports customers in sectors including retail, manufacturing, logistics, construction, hospitality and local government.
The government believes every young person should have the opportunity to earn or learn. It has committed £2.5 billion over the next three years to Youth Guarantee schemes, including £3,000 payments for businesses that hire a young person who has been out of work for six months, and an expansion of youth apprenticeships.
Additional Information:
Guaranteed jobs is a central part of the Youth Guarantee, supporting young people to take the crucial first step into sustained employment where earlier support and opportunities may have not worked.
Under the scheme eligible young people aged 18 to 24 who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months will be guaranteed a 6 month fully funded job. The Government will fund 100% of employment costs for up to 25 hours a week at the relevant minimum wage, alongside tailored employability support to help participants succeed in their role and progress into sustained employment.
The new Large Employer Pathway is for employers with 250 or more staff who expect to offer 10 or more jobs and want to recruit in more than one part of the country. It means a faster application and approval process, one onboarding process instead of several, a dedicated support team, help lining up recruitment across lots of jobs and locations, and ongoing support while they take part. Employers who don’t already work with DWP’s Strategic Relationship Team can apply too.