Tees Valley’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is open to applications from young people aged 18-21 who are not in education, employment, or training, and are living in Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees).
Once you have submitted your application the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer team will be in touch to introduce you to your key worker.
Your key worker can help you with pre-placement support to make sure you’re equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed.
Working with your key worker, you will explore whether a work taster or work placement is more suitable for you at this time and discuss what areas you’re most interested in.
Each employer will have their own recruitment process. This could include submitting an application from, supplying a CV and covering letter, and attending an interview.
Your key worker can help you with pre-placement support to make sure you’re equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed.
For the three- and six-month work placements you will be paid at the National Minimum Wage rate. This is currently at £10 per hour for those aged 18-20, and £12.21 per hour for those aged 21+.
The taster sessions are unpaid, but you may be able to get help with travel costs. Speak to your dedicated key worker to find out more.
The paid work placements do not guarantee a job at the end of your placement but are designed by employers to equip you with the relevant skills and experiences needed to secure future job or training opportunities in your chosen area of interest.
During your placement, you will have been working closely with your dedicated key worker to build up essential employment skills, including help with job searches and learning how to apply and prepare for interview.
Visit www.teesvalleyjobs.com to search and apply for local jobs.
Tees Valley’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is running from spring 2025 until the end of March 2026. All paid work placements are expected to start by September / October 2025.
Although this is a one-year programme, the Youth Trailblazer is part of a longer-term plan to make sure that everyone living in Tees Valley can access a good and progressive job and is backed by the right support and training to help achieve their career and employment ambitions.
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