Northern Rights, an award-winning personal development and employment support service with its head office at South Shields Business Works has signed the South Tyneside Pledge.
Directors Katherine Murray and Dawn Brown established Northern Rights advice service in 2012 within the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Peterlee and have since grown to 65 staff working across sites in South Tyneside, Sunderland and East Durham.
From free confidential benefits advice, supported referrals to appropriate specialists, financial support, internal and external training and job searching, Northern Rights offers a job brokerage and free recruitment service for local employers matching people and vacancies.
The company is passionate about helping disadvantaged people to gain the skills and confidence that will help them into sustainable employment, most importantly the right job role to suit their individual needs.
The South Tyneside Pledge sets out nine commitments for organisations to spend, recruit and support South Tyneside with the aim of boosting local economic activity, cutting carbon emissions, and enhancing civic pride for the benefit of the whole Borough.
Since signing up to the charter, Northern Rights have employed three young people through the Government Kickstart Scheme, which was put in place to create new jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Two of the young people are 24 year old Lewis Taylor, and 19 year old Katie Thompson who are from South Tyneside and are working as Trainee Administrators at the Northern Rights Head Office in South Shields. The role involves meeting and greeting participants, reviewing, and updating data, using a range of software applications, handling mail and petty cash and contacting participants to inform them of appointments and training courses.
Lesley-Anne Kirk, a Director at Northern Rights said:
Lewis and Katie had not worked in an office environment before but have really impressed us with their hard work, commitment, punctuality and focus they have shown us so far. We would encourage other local businesses to consider signing the Pledge because it support’s South Tyneside’s economy by helping local people access opportunities and boosts business growth in our borough.
The feedback from the youngsters after three months has been really positive. Katie said:
“Being at Northern Rights has helped me really come out of my shell as it’s a lovely company to work for, great environment and really lovely people”.
Organisations, public and private, big, and small, can sign up at any time and become part of the Pledge South Tyneside network at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/southtynesidepledge
To find out more about Northern Rights visit https://northernrights.org.uk/
