Clear Channel, Transport for London and London Transport Museum give young Londoners a ‘Route into Work’

Three young Londoners are benefitting from apprenticeships at Clear Channel UK’s largest depot in Hayes, thanks to an innovative training programme called ‘Route into Work’.

Route into Work saw Clear Channel partner with Transport for London (TfL) and London Transport Museum to provide employment training and opportunities for 16-24 year olds in London.

The scheme helps young Londoners, including those with criminal records or disabilities, onto TfL contracts as part of the government’s new Traineeship initiative.

Route into Work is an innovative museum-based training programme which uses the heritage of London Transport to develop young people’s employment skills, before introducing them to a recruiting transport industry employer, such as Clear Channel.

As part of the initiative, Clear Channel selected five trainees to receive a seven-week traineeship.

The ultimate aim was to give two paid apprenticeship roles at the end of the course, but the standard of candidates was so high that Clear Channel decided to create an additional position and employ a third apprentice. The apprentices attended weekly English and Maths classes through Four Counties Training as part of the scheme. After completing their apprenticeships, the young people will be offered permanent employment with Clear Channel as full time operatives.

Mark Webb, Operations Director at Clear Channel, said: “Route into Work is a brilliant way of helping disadvantaged young people find a path into full-time employment and stay there. It’s a scheme we are very proud of and are we are delighted to work closely with our partners at Transport for London and the London Transport Museum to make this such a success. Our apprentices are doing fantastically well and are a credit to the scheme.”

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “Our partnership with Clear Channel and London Transport Museum has been a great success and it’s fantastic to see that because of the high calibre of candidates for their apprenticeship roles, an additional role has been created. We are committed to creating apprenticeship opportunities directly and through our supply chain and this is a great example of the work we do to get young people into jobs whilst support London’s growing economy and developing the skills of the future transport workers.”

Sam Mullins, Director of London Transport Museum said: “As well as looking to the past London Transport Museum looks to the future, and a key aspect of our work is to provide stimulating places for informal learning in which young people learn from our transport heritage, develop new skills and build their future career in transport. 265+ young people have taken part in Route into Work since it began in 2010 and nearly all of them have said the same things – ‘It’s different from other courses’ and ‘I didn’t expect it to be this good’.”

Route into Work is delivered every month at the London Transport Museum and is set to run again later this year with Clear Channel.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Clear Channel is the first media business to work with London Transport Museum on this initiative.