Leading UK timber supplier Premier Forest Products has been acknowledged by the UK Work and Pensions Secretary for its groundbreaking Corporate Parenting Programme.
The programme takes up to six young people each year, offering paid work placements across departments including finance, operations, logistics, and manufacturing.
Each mentee is matched with an in-house mentor and receives constant support, including educational tutoring where needed. Since launching the programme two years ago, Premier Forest has supported 12 young people, providing the confidence, structure, and opportunity to move successfully into the world of work.
Newport East MP Jessica Morden has visited the Premier Forest headquarters in Newport to learn more about the programme.
The MP raised the visit and the programme in a session in the House of Commons, highlighting how the scheme is an important model for the UK Government to consider when looking at the support it can give organisations.
Ms Morden told the Commons: “I recently visited Premier Forest Products in Newport to learn more about the vocational training and employment opportunities that the business is offering to care-experienced young school leavers in Newport, with some wonderful success stories.”
She asked Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden if his department would look at the model the company is creating, and if he could say more about how the UK Government is working with businesses to make sure that opportunities are more accessible for people from all backgrounds.
Mr McFadden noted Ms Morden’s comments and said he would be happy to look at the programme and the work Premier Forest has undertaken.
He recognised the challenges care leavers faced finding employment and training, and said the UK Government had allocated an extra £10 million over the coming year in Wales to provide further support.
Terry Edgell, CEO and Co-Founder said: “We are extremely proud of this programme. We aim to give these young people the same care, encouragement, and the structure we would give our own children. We can change their life chances.
“To be recognised in this way by Jessica Morden and the Work and Pensions Secretary is extremely significant and important for our aim to see this rolled this out nationally.
“Our discussions with Jessica may potentially inspire other employers to introduce this scheme into their organisations.”
