At HPP, we believe creating opportunities for the next generation is essential to building a stronger workforce and supporting our local community.
Over the past six months, HPP has welcomed four young people through the UK Government's Youth Guarantee employment scheme, giving them valuable workplace experience across our Oldham production facilities.
The scheme aims to help young people access employment, training and further education, providing tailored support for those not currently in education, employment or training (NEET). It offers eligible 18-24 year olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and seeking work for an extended period a six-month paid job.
For Ben Moore, Matthew Hankin, Romario Adams and James Dewsnap, the opportunity has provided them a chance to develop practical skills, build confidence and gain a better understanding of working life.
Ben Moore, 22, has been working in our Panel Production warehouse, preparing panels from the production line for dispatch. After spending more than a year on Universal Credit, he was introduced to the scheme and welcomed the opportunity to move into employment.
Ben says he's gained valuable practical experience, strengthened his CV and developed skills to improve his future employability. His role has also helped him understand the importance of meeting deadlines, achieving production quotas and managing his time effectively.
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At 19, Matthew Hankin joined HPP keen to learn and gain experience across the business. Working in our door production and door dispatch departments, he's been inspecting products to ensure they are clean and ready for dispatch, as well as preparing doors and components coming off the production lines. After an extended period of job hunting, he secured his position within two weeks of being introduced to the scheme.
Matthew's experience has exceeded his expectations: "I never thought I'd be excited to go to work every day, but I actually like it."
He has developed his organisational and communication skills while learning production processes and standards. Handling large boards safely was initially challenging, but training and support from colleagues helped him master the correct techniques.
The experience has also prompted Matthew to reconsider his future plans. Although he had originally intended to return to college to pursue a career as a therapist, working at HPP has encouraged him to explore other options.
For 20-year-old Romario Adams, joining HPP marked his first job. Working in Door Dispatch, he's been operating packing machinery and making sure doors and components are correctly allocated for onward delivery or collection. He chose HPP from a selection of opportunities offered through the scheme.
Having spent around a year looking for work, Romario wanted to gain experience and discover what working life involved. He is particularly enjoying the fast-paced environment and learned first-hand the demands of production work.
His role has helped him improve his communication and time-management skills through working with colleagues and customers. He has also shown commitment in managing his daily journey from Denton, involving two buses and an early start.
His advice to other young people considering the scheme is straightforward: "If you do it, you got to stick at it." Romario would recommend the opportunity to others looking to gain experience and take their first steps into employment.
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Aged 23 and living locally in Shaw, James Dewsnap joined HPP's Fittings Department through the Scheme after previously working in picking and packing.
James is enjoying working with a friendly team, meeting new people and discovering the scale and variety of HPP's operations. Learning product codes, storage locations and the differences between products has been a key part of his development.
With guidance from colleagues, he is building his product knowledge while strengthening his communication and time-management skills.
Looking ahead, James hopes to continue working in a warehouse environment, describing it as "good, honest work". He believes the programme offers young people a valuable route into employment, providing practical experience and the opportunity to learn new skills.
Looking to the Future
Although neither Ben, Matthew, Romario or James have their entire career mapped out, their time at HPP has already provided valuable foundations for the future.
From meeting production deadlines and handling materials safely to improving communication, organisation and time management, each has gained practical skills that can support their next steps in employment.
Just as importantly, all four have experienced the benefits of teamwork and highlighted the welcoming atmosphere among their colleagues.
At HPP, we are proud to have supported Ben, Matthew, Romario and James on their journeys, providing an environment where they can learn, develop and build confidence.
The Youth Guarantee Scheme demonstrates how meaningful employment opportunities can help young people take important first steps towards a sustainable career, and we look forward to seeing where their journeys take them next.