Amin, 21, secures ‘dream’ apprenticeship thanks to new support service for young LondonersA local man has secured his ‘dream’ apprenticeship after enlisting the help of a free local service supporting young Londoners into work or training.Amin Hassan, 21, from Isleworth, contacted London’s Youth Employment Skills (YES) programme after multiple unsuccessful job applications. “I’d been searching for a junior-level admin role, but was getting nowhere,” said Amin, who is originally from Afghanistan and moved to the UK aged just seven. “I come from a family where I’m the youngest, and I was the only one out of work. “I was really starting to feel the pressure.”Amin had been out of work for six months when a leaflet advertising the new YES programme dropped through his letterbox.The leaflet, said Amin, came at “just the right time – it was like it was meant to be” and encouraged him to sign up to the programme online.The new employment skills service is delivered by public services provider Reed in Partnership to help more than 2,500 18-24 year olds in London start training, work or an apprenticeship by supporting with interview skills, CV writing and job searching.Funded by the Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund, YES is specifically for young people who have extra potential barriers to finding employment, such as those who are Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME); or who have experienced issues with mental health, drugs/alcohol or homelessness.Amin concedes that he was initially apprehensive about taking part in the programme: “I didn’t know what to expect”, he said. “But I also thought it sounded really promising.”Any hesitation Amin felt about the programme diminished when he met his Employment Adviser, Mark, who worked with him to explore potential career paths, create an impressive CV and practice a range of interview techniques.“After months of unemployment and many unaccepted applications, breaking my low confidence was a huge obstacle,” said Amin. “But Mark gave me so much support.“The programme provided a really helpful self-confidence course, as well as interview preparation and trials; the interview prep was amazing – I was able to answer questions with ease in my actual interviews because we’d gone into similar questions in so much detail beforehand. “Being ready meant that I was relaxed and prepared and it helped me stand out.”Whilst Amin was initially focused on entry-level administrative roles, his YES Adviser helped him to find the confidence to pursue his dream job in logistics with delivery giants DHL:“I have secured myself an apprenticeship – which I’ve wanted to do since I was 16. It’s in logistics, which I love! I’m over the moon!“The apprenticeship is so beneficial and a huge opportunity for me; I’m in the best place I can be. I am waking up every day knowing I am working in a field that I love, enjoy and find challenging. “Without the guidance and support from Mark and the YES programme, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”The YES programme is encouraging 18-24 year olds from London to sign up and take advantage of its free support service. Nick Morgan, Senior Operations Manager at Reed in Partnership, said:“Amin’s story demonstrates how beneficial the YES programme can be for young people – it shows that not only can we help you find sustainable employment; but that we can give you the confidence and employability skills to pursue your dream job or apprenticeship. “If you’re a young person living in London who would like to take advantage of this completely free service, visit yesldn.org to take the first step in developing your future.”