Marketing firm hosts cabinet member in Kickstart celebration

A Chippenham marketing firm that was at the vanguard of the government’s Kickstart scheme to get young people into employment has hosted a meeting with the secretary of state for work and pensions.

The right honourable Thérèse Coffey MP joined Purpol Marketing founder Denise O’Leary and a handful of young people on the Kickstart scheme to hear how the firm was helping to train and place youngsters in the creatives sector.

Fifty young people from across the UK have started six-month placements with Purpol Marketing, and seven have already gone on to find permanent job placements.

The new recruits discussed how they have been able start their roles remotely and how Kickstart has helped them start on the road to a new career.

“It was great to meet the young jobseekers who have begun their Kickstart journey with Purpol Marketing and are receiving that helping hand to fulfil their potential and launch their careers,” said the cabinet minister.

“Young people have been hit especially hard by this pandemic and that’s why they are at the heart of our Plan for Jobs, to help them back onto their feet and into employment as we push to build back better.”

Ruby Kittle, 23, from Glasgow has started her Kickstart role with Purpol Marketing and was on the call

“Unfortunately my career plans were skewed due to Covid-19, so I was unemployed for several months after graduating,” she said.

“After joining Purpol Marketing through the Kickstart Scheme I have gained a significant boost in experience and knowledge in an industry I had always been interested in but never fully pursued.

“After the Kickstart internship ends I hope to pursue another role in digital marketing using the new skills I have developed.”

Denise said: “We have been delighted to support the Kickstart scheme offering remote digital marketing placements through my company Purpol Marketing.

“We launched with 50 placements and seven people have already found jobs – we are so thrilled that they have been able to apply their learning and improve their future opportunity.

“The enthusiasm they are showing across a broad range of marketing disciplines is incredible – I would encourage all employers to look at this scheme.”

The Kickstart Scheme was launched to provide opportunities that will boost the career prospects of young people, giving them the skills and experience to stay in longer-term employment.

Forming part of the Plan for Jobs, the initiative provides six-month, fully-funded placements for 16 to 24-year-olds, and has created nearly 150,000 jobs since it launched.

Denise O’Leary (top left) and Thérèse Coffey (bottom) with some of the Kickstart interns