News
GoThinkBig – transforming the world of work experience
30 October 2012
Last week saw the launch of a new social action partnership between O2 and Bauer Media, aptly named GoThinkBig. This ambitious partnership aims to transform the world of work experience for 14-25 year olds, and is matched by a pledge to create and deliver 30,000 work experience opportunities over the next three years across each business.
At the launch on Tuesday 23rd October, the partnership unveiled the GoThinkBig.co.uk platform, which offers young people career advice, insight and inspiration to help them on the journey to success. The site also includes opportunity listings including skills development days, work experience placements, internships, graduate placements and funding to enable young people to start their own projects.
GoThinkBig is based on a shared commitment to tackle youth unemployment, and aims to address the vicious circle of ‘no experience, no job, no experience,’ that is so familiar to young people. Rather than acting as a jobs board, GoThinkBig.co.uk will focus on bridging the skills gap, by giving young people high quality, tangible opportunities to develop their skills and experience and prepare them for the world of work. For GoThinkBig to reach its full potential, O2 and Bauer are calling on other employers to make their work experience opportunities available through the new gothinkbig.co.uk website.
The hope is that other employers, including Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations will join the programme to mean that, for the first time, there is a single site where thousands of opportunities are available, all in one place. O2 has a strong track record in investing in young people through the hugely successful Think Big Programme, delivered in partnership with the National Youth Agency, which gives young people funding and mentoring support to turn community project ideas into action.
Coupled with the reach of Bauer’s impressive array of youth brands, and their print and broadcast capabilities, GoThinkBig represents a new kind of private sector collaboration – leading the way in creative and sustainable investment in young people. For more detail visit GoThinkBig.co.uk
