Find career confidence with KFC's Hatch programme

verybody knows the life-changing power of a great first job. It's not just an opportunity to start earning. It's the foundation on which the rest of a career is built, bringing confidence, knowledge and self-esteem. As one of the largest youth employers in the country, KFC has been the first step for thousands, propelling them into careers they never thought possible. However, many people starting out are struggling to take that first crucial step. The Covid pandemic took away crucial skills and career development opportunities from young people across the country. Now faced with a cost-of-living crisis and uncertain economy, many risk being left behind in the jobs market. Research shows the number of young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training stood at 711,000 in March last year. Introducing Hatch But a pioneering programme launched by KFC and UK Youth is hoping to change that. Hatch is a UK-wide initiative creating opportunities for young people who are ready for work, but who face barriers because of social, economic, domestic or mental health challenges. The eight-week programme provides young people with one-on-one support, training and practical work experience in KFC restaurants and in the local community, with each graduate getting an opportunity to join the KFC team at the end of their placement. Last year saw the first 100 people take part in the programme when it launched in Manchester with fantastic success. They include people like Liam, who overcame personal difficulties preventing him from finding suitable employment. The programme is available to people aged 16-24 and who are recommended for Hatch by youth work organisations. The programme covers seven modules, including areas such as setting and achieving goals, building connections, CV and application advice, practical work experience at KFC restaurants or with other employers, and interview training. In total, half of those who completed the Hatch programme in Manchester have gone on to find full-time employment as a result. The programme is now being rolled out across the UK this year, with 500 placements being made available across the West Midlands, South East and Scotland. KFC's Pledge Eventually, KFC wants to help 6,000 young people in the UK who have faced barriers to employment. They have made an ambitious pledge - by 2030 a third of all new hires will be young people from the Hatch programme who have completed the course and discovered new-found confidence in the world of work. "At KFC we believe every young person who wants a job should be able to get one. After all, we've been the first job for thousands of people in the UK. But without the connections and experience. getting that first job can feel impossible for so many young people today. "That's why we're opening the doors of our first-ever members club with a twist." says Meg Farren, Managing Director of KFC UK & Ireland. "The Kentucky Club will offer networking, mentoring, skills development and access to jobs and opportunities that you may get from traditional clubs, but without the exclusivity or price tag. We want to give all young people a fair shot at a first job." MILLY, 23, was lacking in confidence before joining the Hatch programme Many of us leave school unsure of what career path we'd like to follow. Luckily for Milly, she knew she wanted to work in the hospitality industry thanks to her keen appetite for cooking. But finding a job proved more difficult than she first imagined. "When I left school I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to go to college and maybe do a catering course because I really enjoy cooking in my spare time," says Milly, 23. "When I left college I was worried it might be a bit of a challenge and I wasn't very confident applying for jobs at first. It was difficult to find one and I was off for the whole of the summer which was frustrating" Luckily, Rachel from Think Sandwell Employment and Skills Team put her forward for the Hatch programme later that year. and she hasn't looked back. The programme has opened new doors for Milly and she's now feeling excited about the future rather than apprehensive. "I've really enjoyed it, it's been a great experience and they've been really supportive both while I was on the programme and afterwards. "I was nervous to apply for jobs before but after my time with Hatch, I've become more confident, and independent. I've also learnt so many new skills and met lots of new people which hadn't been as easy during lockdown." Having successfully completed the programme, Milly now works for KFC and she can't recommend the programme enough. "I even recommended the Hatch programme to my friend I went to college with because my job's really varied and I think she'd enjoy it too. She's starting the programme at the end of October." The Hatch programme helped KUNWAL, 18, to step out of her shell Like many people coming out of school, Kunwal wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Having tried several different courses at college, she found classroom learning challenging and was seeking something more practical. "I always really struggled at college," says Kunwal, 18. "It would make me feel unmotivated as I couldn't retain all the information I was being taught." While attending Manchester Youth Zone, Hatch was recommended to her as a way of getting into work and learning new skills in a more hands-on way. Through working with others during the Hatch training and in KFC, she built her confidence and social skills. "It was manageable levels of learning in hands-on environments. It can be difficult for young people to juggle multiple jobs and commitments to support themselves. I often find that unless you can be honest about your situation, you can't be helped effectively." Whether as a first step to a career in hospitality or as a stepping stone to jobs elsewhere, restaurants can play a huge role in opening up opportunities and driving social mobility in communities. Kunwal found that KFC was a perfect training ground, for building her confidence and teamwork skills. She now works at KFC and wants to pursue a career in hospitality. "The training helped me learn about my needs in a work setting without feeling judged or ashamed. It was an instant family-like environment and I felt comfortable to be myself and voice my needs. "I hope that more young people understand the help that's available. It has completely changed my life!" The fear of failure was holding LIAM, 17, back Like many teenagers, Liam wondered when and where his first job opportunity might come. But despite his ambition, he also faced another question; just how would he be able to take that first step to a fulfilling career? I struggled for most of his early life to socialise in a way that made him feel comfortable and he often found it affected his ability to find suitable employment. He also found it challenging to juggle any work he found alongside college. has been something that has "I have always really struggled with social interaction." says Liam. 17. "It made me apprehensive and scared of seeking employment. "In previous jobs I was constantly worried about doing something wrong. which led to so much self-doubt and held me back. I don't think I'm alone in being crippled by self-doubt when it comes to employment. "Because of my age, I am very aware that I don't know a lot of things and the fear of getting something wrong has worked as a barrier. The turning point came when Liam joined Hatch, where he was given one-to-one support, training and practical work experience in a KFC restaurant. After graduating in August, he went on to work at KFC part-time alongside his college work. "For me to feel comfortable and able to work, people being welcoming and encouraging is so important, says Liam. "I found hands-on training really helped build my confidence in my ability and learn in a way that helped me feel calm and comfortable. "The people were my favourite part of the programme," adds Liam. "Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. It has given me resilience, confidence and an ability to enjoy my job and the social interaction that comes with it.

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Everybody knows the life-changing power of a great first job.

It's not just an opportunity to start earning. It's the foundation on which the rest of a career is built, bringing confidence, knowledge and self-esteem.

As one of the largest youth employers in the country, KFC has been the first step for thousands, propelling them into careers they never thought possible.

However, many people starting out are struggling to take that first crucial step. The Covid pandemic took away crucial skills and career development opportunities from young people across the country.

Now faced with a cost-of-living crisis and uncertain economy, many risk being left behind in the jobs market. Research shows the number of young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training stood at 711,000 in March last year.

Introducing Hatch

But a pioneering programme launched by KFC and UK Youth is hoping to change that.

Hatch is a UK-wide initiative creating opportunities for young people who are ready for work, but who face barriers because of social, economic, domestic or mental health challenges.

The eight-week programme provides young people with one-on-one support, training and practical work experience in KFC restaurants and in the local community, with each graduate getting an opportunity to join the KFC team at the end of their placement.

Last year saw the first 100 people take part in the programme when it launched in Manchester with fantastic success. They include people like Liam, who overcame personal difficulties preventing him from finding suitable employment.

The programme is available to people aged 16-24 and who are recommended for Hatch by youth work organisations.