The Hackney 100 - Bringing the ‘Saturday job’ into the 21st Century
Hackney Council is set to bring the Saturday job into the 21st century, with the Hackney 100 project.
This unique initiative will give 100 teenagers the opportunity to gain valuable paid work, as well equipping them with the skills and experience they will need to forge their future careers. The Hackney 100 will work with high-calibre local employees whilst earning the London Living Wage of £8.80 per hour for 4 hours per week outside of school hours.
With the traditional paper-round or Saturday job no longer the norm for many teenagers in the UK, the Hackney 100 project is stepping in to provide opportunities for young people aged 16 and 17, to get their foot on the career ladder, work with local industries and build-up a CV. They will earn as they learn, as well as benefiting from a dedicated business mentor. The placements will last for a minimum of six months.
There are roles on offer across a number of business sectors, such as the Hackney specialities of tech, design, media and fashion as well as positions in hospitality, catering, engineering and finance.
Hackney is experiencing unprecedented growth particularly in the creative and digital industries. We want Hackney residents to benefit from this and we want see local young people take full advantage of the opportunities our borough has to offer to help us continue our success story.“With the Hackney 100, we are providing opportunities for teenagers to shape their future careers, and helping to re-establish a culture of paid work for school students at a time when the traditional Saturday job has become a distant memory. They will be paid the London Living Wage of £8.80 per hour, so those that take part can really start to feel the value of earning their own money. This is an exciting opportunity for young people and businesses alike.
Anthony Impey, Chief Executive of Optimity, one of the participating employers, launched the scheme alongside Mayor Pipe. He said “Optimity are proud to be one of the inaugural Hackney 100 employers. We're excited about the scheme and what it can offer young people in Hackney. At the launch, I told the young people present what would be expected of them."It will be hard work and they will be expected to pull their weight and earn their money. This is about teaching young people what it means to go to work, do a job and earn a wage, and the responsibility that comes with that, as well as giving them valuable exposure to an exciting work environment.