We have recently taken on four local recruits across our marketing and finance departments as part of the Kickstart Scheme.

The scheme is a government initiative aimed at helping 16 to 24-year-olds enter the jobs market, and provides a fully funded job opportunity for young people to gain experience in their chosen field.

One of our new recruits, junior graphic designer, Rhiece Rhodes, 22, said,

“I studied Graphic Design at Leeds Beckett University but was finding it difficult to secure employment during the pandemic. Now that I’m working in CP’s marketing team, I can broaden my skills and pursue my chosen career path while learning how graphic design fits into the wider marketing mix.”

Placements are funded by the government for the first six months, allowing local residents to get into long term employment while developing their skills and improving their employability.

Mike Brennan, CP Media’s CEO, explains why CP wanted to get involved and help to support the next generation of workers:

“I wanted to get involved in the Kickstart Scheme as I was fortunate enough to have got my first employment opportunity via its predecessor, the Youth Training Scheme (YTS), back in the 1980s. Unemployment was high at the time and the scheme offered me a foot on the ladder working as a decorator. My reason for using the Kickstart Scheme is two-fold: it provides a great opportunity to local, young people who need that first break, whilst providing a boost to my business with some fresh thinking and ideas that young people can bring. We have already had a positive experience with the Kickstart Scheme, moving our first recruits from minimum 25 hours up to full time after only a few weeks, because we were so impressed with the quality of candidates.”

CP Media has grown considerably over the past 12 months, and has been listed as one of Yorkshire’s 50 Fastest Growing Businesses for the third consecutive year. Becoming a Kickstart employer has provided the opportunity for further expansion with the ability to recruit new local talent into the business. 

We look forward to supporting the development of their skills in the coming months and are delighted to welcome our new recruits into our expanding and dynamic team.