Choose a good reputation over great riches

Confidence, initiative, teachability and tenacity. These words may sound like clues to a crossword puzzle, but in fact they are the goals of a ground-breaking youth employment scheme taking shape in Sheffield.

Our popular culture seems to reward celebrities or public figures with low moral fibre but a loud voice. They thrive through eye-catching social media, but at times they can display eye-watering behaviour and personal character. In the middle of this comes an initiative called Ascend, run in collaboration with local employers, some of Sheffield’s Christian churches and Together for Sheffield, a charity whose ethos is inspired by the life and works of Jesus, working for the wellbeing of everyone in Sheffield.

Ascend is a service to provide work experience, mentoring and training for 18-24 year olds at risk of long term unemployment. Many young people in our region have seen their career paths disrupted by the pandemic. In the present economic climate, the opportunity for genuine work experience followed by the chance of a part-time job is a massive bonus.

What caught my eye was the heart and values of this initiative. As an employer myself, I know that a person’s character is the most important thing I judge in a potential candidate, even more than their skill set, which can often be supplemented on-the-job.

Fortnightly training is tailored to the individual, and is about growing the kind of character within a young person that makes them the sort of person an employer would want in their workplace. A personal mentor helps them to discover who they are and what they are made for.

And the scheme is proving to be a success. Being part of the programme has literally changed my life” said Wilster, one young adult participant. For the past 12 months, the charity has worked with over 30 employers across Sheffield, helping them grow their teams and achieve new goals while making a positive contribution to our city. Over 75% of the 68 young adults who completed the previous programme are now in full-time work and helping their employers succeed.

Ascend reminds me of the Bible Proverb which says “choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.”

Get in touch if you’re an employer who could offer a life-changing paid placement or to help fund the project: ben@togetherforsheffield.co.uk