Lord Sugar apprentice Gabrielle Omar kick starts a summer of helping young people into the fast lane
PHOTO NEWS | 26 June 2012
07866 757 389
Lord Sugar apprentice Gabrielle Omar kick starts a summer of helping young people into the fast lane
BBC TV apprentice Gabrielle Omar spoke candidly today about her own experiences of school ahead of Futureversity’s launch of its summer programme that helps young people into the skills and jobs fast lane.
She met young apprentices [16-25 years] earlier today at Futureversity offices near Brick Lane to mark the launch of the east London charity’s summer programme that gives young people the free opportunity to develop new skills, meet new people, discover new talents, gain employment skills and, most of all, have fun.
With the class of 2012 facing some of the toughest conditions for job hunting in a generation, coupled with worries about what to do with their lives, the charity says its courses can be a life changing experience, and a crucial first step on the career ladder.
Gabrielle joined summer programme Manager Abdul Azim as well as Futurerversity apprentice Roanna Anderson (Peckham) and Team Leader Bianca Price (Bethnal Green) to talk about the motivation needed by young people to succeed in the workplace.
The meeting follows a recent survey - commissioned by the charity – which found that young people feel schools are not giving them confidence or skills to succeed, employers have a negative attitude towards them, and the Government simply isn’t listening and doesn’t care about their plight. The poll of over 1,000 16 – 25 year olds, living in London, reveals as many as 64% say that employers and business are not positive towards helping them, with the majority (60%) saying they feel doors are closed when looking for jobs.
Gabrielle Omar said: “When I look back I probably had very little confidence throughout my school years. Like a lot of young people, I was very shy and never had the confidence to present my work to a teacher, never mind present it to a whole load of people. That’s why Futureversity’s summer programme is so powerful because the courses can be a life-changing experience in reinforcing confidence, motivation and talent. With a tougher employment market equipping young people of all ages with the skills and confidence they need to secure and remain in employment is crucial, and every part of the country should have schemes like this, especially in some of our most troubled communities.”
As a teenager Gabrielle worked in her parent’s fish and chip shop which she believes changed her path and instilled in her the determination to succeed.
Futureversity was established primarily to tackle the high incidence of crime among young people aged 14-25 during the summer holiday period. Piloted in 1995, Futureversity is celebrating its seventeenth successive year pioneering new approaches to out-of-school learning that inspires young people to try something new or explore a possible career. Participants can choose from courses in investment banking to sports coaching and magazine production.
Futureversity Programme Manager Abdul Azim said: “To anyone worrying about exam results or getting on the job ladder our message is clear – our summer programme improves employment prospects and is a chance to do something really worthwhile, involving meeting new people and trying out new things without fear of failure.”
Run by industry professionals the FREE summer Futureversity courses running in Tower Hamlets are open to all young people from any borough in London.
Futureversity is also running courses running in Ealing, Barnet and Greenwich available to young people living in those boroughs. The summer programme runs throughout July and August (2012). Call 020 7247 7900 or sign-up online NOW for some the best FREE courses yet wwwfutureversity.org
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Notes for editors
*** contact Victoria Silver on 07866 757 389 for more information or interviews ***
**** contact Andrew Stern for more information about the Greenwich programme 020 8921 5043 ****
1.) Futureversity delivers award-winning free courses and activities for 11-25 year olds to help them develop the skills and self-belief they need to make the most of their lives. Piloted as a crime prevention initiative in Tower Hamlets in 1995 (as Summer University), today the charity delivers learning opportunities to thousands of young people in partnership with businesses and industry professionals. Last year (2010-2011) Futureversity courses were oversubscribed by five times. Futureversity patrons include two of its former student, music artist Dizzee Rascal and co-founder MP Rushanara Ali, plus film director Danny Boyle and Baroness Oona King.
2.) The research (survey with young people was done through an online survey between 27 April and 6 May 2012. It represents the views of over 1,000 young people (aged 16-25) from across London. Young people were asked about jobs and skills training, the support they received at school and the difficulties they experience finding and securing jobs. The ‘closed doors’ job survey can be found at www.futureversity.org
3.) Gabrielle Omar spent 10 weeks as a candidate in this year’s BBC One Apprentice where she was one of the top sales contestants and where Lord Sugar complemented her design logo for the English Sparkling Wine Industry task. Gabrielle runs her own architectural practice, Lolli and Square, as well as a Creative agency, WeBeThree, which turns into a Gallery by night exhibiting artists, photographers and sculptors work to the public, sharing and educating new ideas in the creative world. She also has an online sweet company, DAILY-DOSE.me, which is currently booming in sales.
