A PARTNERSHIP between Yorkshire Building Society, which has a branch in Tenby, and food redistribution charity FareShare has helped over 450 people improve their employability prospects in its first year, with 60 participants going on to secure paid employment.

Building Skills for the Future is a unique employability programme funded by Yorkshire Building Society and facilitated by FareShare’s network partners at locations across the UK.

The programme offers participants the opportunity to obtain work experience in a warehouse and kitchen environment, learning skills such as picking and packing, logistics, stock management, and core cooking skills. Attendees will also have the opportunity to obtain Food Hygiene and Manual Handling accreditations.

Participants, who are referred via FareShare’s network of over 8,000 charities, can also experience CV workshops and mock interviews with external companies, and attendees who complete the course are supported to apply for jobs with companies in FareShare’s network of contacts throughout the food industry.

In addition to those who have signed up to the programme and gone on to paid employment, 125 said they had learned new skills or knowledge.

For more information about the partnership between FareShare and Yorkshire Building Society visit www.ybs.co.uk/fareshare.