MP impressed by visit to MINT

Chloe Smith MP for Norwich North this week visited MINT, the College's employment service for 16-25 year olds who face barriers to employment, where she found out more about the service and met a group of young job seekers.

The local MP, who is also Economic Secretary to the Treasury, visited MINT's office in The Forum in Norwich, and its nearby training suite, where she spoke to some of the young people the service is currently working with and the job coaches who are helping them into jobs.

Following the visit, Ms Smith (@ChloeSmithMP) tweeted: “Just been blown away by the determination of young people with learning difficulties to get jobs, helped by Norwich City College's MINT.”

MINT works with 16-25 year olds who face barriers to employment, such as having a learning difficulty or disability, working with employers to find suitable job openings and then, crucially, continuing to work with the young person to help train and support them in their new job. 

MINT does this through its job coaches who spend up to 8 weeks alongside the young person in the workplace, breaking the components of the job down into clear, manageable steps for them to master, following a technique called Training in Systematic Instruction.    

The approach has proven highly effective, with MINT successfully placing 37 young people into employment in a little over a year.  MINT is now working with over 60 employers and has 81 young people on its books.

One of those who has been supported by MINT is Hannah Tacey, 20, from Thetford, who has recently been offered a job to work in a nursing home as a domestic assistant.  Hannah said:

“MINT has helped me get more confident by encouraging me to talk with more people and other people on the course.  My job coach got me an interview and helped during the interview and I was offered the job.”  

Shaun Greengrass, 19, from Wymondham, was supported into employment through MINT and is now working as a retail assistant at Myhills Pet & Garden in Wymondham.  Shaun said:

“My job coach contacted an employer and secured me an interview.  The work placement eased me into the world of work.  Having support on hand made it easier. There was an immense amount of support emotionally.  Knowing someone was there for me, on my side, really helped.” 

Dick Palmer, Principal, City College Norwich, said: “With the right training and support the young people MINT works with can make a successful transition into work.  Thanks to the support of employers and the work of the job coaches, MINT is changing lives by opening up meaningful job opportunities for these young people.”        

Lee Robinson, MINT Project Manager, said: “We have had a great response from employers, who have seen that the service can help them to fill their vacancies with hard working, capable young people, who just need that extra bit of support that MINT is able to provide.  We are always looking for new employers to work with and we are aiming to help even more young people into jobs in 2012.”   

Anyone who would like to find out more about MINT’s service for employers and for young people facing barriers to employment can call the team on (01603) 773 760 or email mintenquiries@ccn.ac.uk.