Business leaders get behind The Bayford Foundation at the official launch
Yorkshire’s business leaders have pledged their time and expertise to mentor and support students at a pioneering Foundation which will create hundreds of job opportunities in South Leeds over the next few years.
MDs have signed up to The Bayford Foundation, which will run and pay trainees to embark on rolling 12-week training and development programmes in sales. The course will create 40 jobs in the energy industry in the short term.
The Foundation is spearheaded by, and will be run from, new offices in the existing premises of Hunslet-based BE Fuel Cards, which supplies BP fuel cards to UK businesses.
Trainees from all walks of life will benefit from the vast experience of BE Fuel Cards senior team, who have held senior positions with The Bayford Group. The Group started its life as a coal merchant back in 1919 when survivors of the First World War decided to pool their resources to establish a coal agent’s business.
The Foundation is all about investing in jobs for the future and putting something back into local communities to generate vibrant employment opportunities – John Turner chairman of The Bayford Group is a patron.
Bosses on board
Companies including Eversheds, Emerging Real Estate, business continuity and information security specialist Agenci Information Security (AIS) – along with business development organisations – will mentor trainees and give guest lectures, in-line with the holistic nature of the rolling programmes.
| What If? Specialist – Richard Bosworth Richard Bosworth, the What If? Specialist who facilitates What If? Forums for owner managed businesses, described the Foundation as a hybrid between Britain’s Got Talent and The Apprentice. He said “This is a creative and imaginative way of creating jobs for ‘sparkly people’ and of giving back at the same time.” |
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Agenci Information Security (AIS) Gary Hibberd, MD of Agenci Information Security, believes: “The concept of The Bayford Foundation is inspirational and I’m looking forward to being involved. It will give those who may be out of work an opportunity to shine and be the best that they can be. |
| Emerging Real Estate Tim Morgan, MD of Emerging Real Estate commented: “Finding good sales staff is a perennial issue – as we know from first-hand experience. Giving trainees the chance to learn from the best while paying them is a tremendous opportunity for the right people. I’m definitely signing up.” |
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ActionCOACH Business coach Stuart Johnson hailed the Foundation as: “A great forum to train, develop and give recruits a wealth of opportunity to enable them to live the life they have always wanted.” |
| Be World Class Sports psychologist Simon Hartley of Be World Class, who coached double Olympian and Commonwealth champion swimmer Chris Cook for seven years, described the Foundation as both life-changing and sustainable: “It has been designed to seek out people of all age groups and cultures who have the potential to be better than they are – and gives them the opportunity to change their lives for ever. I’ll be delighted to help with both mentoring and guest speaking.” |
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Mr Yorkshire Keith Madeley MBE – known fondly as Mr Yorkshire – said it was a real pleasure to hear of the plans for the Bayford Foundation. “Congratulations to The Bayford Foundation on the launch of their sales training project for those without work in Hunslet. I look forward to linking in some of my organisations to help build on this truly inspirational initiative and to see how it can be extended to other areas of Yorkshire.” |
| Business Doctors Simon Monaghan, of Business Doctors (Leeds & North Yorkshire), said he enjoyed the launch of The Bayford Foundation, describing it as: “An imaginative and sustainable way of creating local job opportunities.” |
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Investing in the Future
The Bayford Foundation will invest up to £5,000 to put each recruit through the training programme and pay them a salary for its 12-week duration. Successful candidates will be awarded a university recognised qualification which is equivalent to an A Level and progress to earn a minimum £16k annual salary.
Bayford Foundation leader June Forsyth said: “With latest statistics highlighting that Britain faces a shortfall of almost 400,000 jobs for young people and older workers more likely to suffer long term unemployment than their younger counterparts – The Bayford Foundation is offering a life transforming springboard for the right people to aspire to heights that they may have previously only dreamed of.”
Auditions with a difference will take place at the Hunslet Club on Hillidge Road on Saturday 6 July from 2pm-5pm to recruit the first wave of trainees for the inaugural boot camp which will take off later that month.
To find out more about the opportunities available through the Bayford Foundation, you can get in touch with them on 0113 202 5129 or visit their website here: http://www.bayfordfoundation.co.uk/.
