St Jame's Settlement

Site Loading
close searchBtn
Search
Media Centre
Futuremakers' First Job youth employment and subsidy programme
Futuremakers' First Job youth employment and subsidy programme 2020-10-28
A group of guests officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme.
Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered and Josephine Lee, CEO, St. James’ Settlement shared their career journey with youth in the kick-off ceremony of the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme.
Brand New Job-Matching Platform Provides 600+ Jobs
Creating New Opportunities for both Youths and SMEs
 
(Hong Kong, 28th October, 2020) As the Hong Kong economy is severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have low intention to hire or even have to lay-off staff amidst the difficulties. The overall unemployment rate surged to 6.4%, and the unemployment rate among young people aged 20-24 climbed to as high as 20.1%. Meanwhile, according to the statistics of the Joint Institutions Job Information System, the vacancies for graduates have decreased drastically by 40% from a year ago, reflecting the challenges that the young job seekers are facing. 
 
To support youth employment and help SMEs weather the difficult time, St. James’ Settlement and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited are jointly introducing the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme, which will offer half-rate subsidy to SMEs in various sectors for providing full-time or short-term job vacancies. Through the brand new job-matching mobile application, the programme will help DSE, post-secondary and university graduates of the current year to land on a suitable job based on their interests and capabilities, so as to enhance youth employability.
 
Mary Huen, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, at Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, said: “‘Futuremakers’ First Job’, that we launched jointly with St. James’ Settlement, is one of the first projects introduced by Standard Chartered’s global initiative in supporting economic recovery across different communities. We understand that fresh graduates could be facing a lot of challenges when looking for their first job during the pandemic. Therefore, we hope this programme can provide a total of 400 young job seekers with pre-employment training and job opportunities, by subsidising 100 SMEs to offer over 600 job vacancies, including a lot of ‘gig jobs’. While many corporates are cutting full-time job positions, and increasingly more young people are looking for flexible employment, the programme can help promote the ‘gig economy’ and create a win-win solution.”

 
Josephine Lee, Chief Executive Officer of St. James’ Settlement, said: “I deeply appreciate Standard Chartered’s generous support of HK$5 million in bringing this programme to life and helping the young people to get employed. No matter whether it is their dream job, ‘the first job’ is particularly important to the graduates as they start learning a proper working attitude and soft skills like communication techniques and teamwork, which will help them better equip themselves for their next job.”
 
Jimmy Wan, Chairman of Hong Kong Greater China SME Alliance Association, shows great support to the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme. Over the years, he has worked with many SMEs to provide job internship opportunities for the young people. He believes the programme would help encourage SMEs to continue hiring amidst the pandemic while helping young people to look for jobs, benefitting both sides.
 
With funding of HK$5 million by the Standard Chartered Foundation, the programme will offer a wage subsidy up to HK$30,000 over a period of 6 months to each enrolled SME for each youth being hired, so as to alleviate employers’ financial burden. In addition, the programme will provide a 3-day pre-employment training to the young job seekers to prepare them for their first job. The programme is now open for applications. Graduates of the current year can visit https://futuremakers.firstjob.hk for more details. Enrolment is on a first-come-first-served basis. For further information, interested local enterprises may call 2596 2777 or e-mail to [email protected].
 
Caption:
  1. A group of guests officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme. Photo shows (from left) Eliza Ng, Chief People and Culture Officer, Hong Kong Productivity Council, Mary Huen, CEO, Hong Kong, Standard Chartered, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered, Josephine Lee, CEO, St. James’ Settlement, Jimmy Wan, Chairman of Hong Kong Greater China SME Alliance Association and Cherry, fresh graduate.
  2. Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered and Josephine Lee, CEO, St. James’ Settlement shared their career journey with youth in the kick-off ceremony of the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme. 
– END –
 
About Futuremakers’ First Job
To support youth employment and help SMEs weather the difficult time, St. James’ Settlement and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited are jointly introducing the “Futuremakers’ First Job” youth employment and subsidy programme, which offers half-rate subsidy to SMEs in various sectors for providing full-time or short-term job vacancies. Through the brand new job-matching mobile application, the programme aims at helping DSE, post-secondary and university graduates of the current year to land on a suitable job and, thus, promote youth employment. This programme is funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, and is one of the projects introduced by Standard Chartered’s US$50 million COVID-19 Global Assistance Fund, which aims to support economic recovery across different communities.

 
About Standard Chartered
We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 60 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serving clients in a further 85. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.
 
Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.
 
The history of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the Hong Kong SAR’s three note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1 July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered PLC.

 

About St. James’ Settlement
Founded by the Rt. Rev. Bishop R.O. Hall of the Anglican Church in 1949, St. James’ Settlement began as a club for boys and girls in a temple in Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai. It was then developed into a six-storey building on Kennedy Road in 1963 to provide diversified services, including children and youth services, elderly services and rehabilitation services. In 1987, the headquarters was opened in Stone Nullah Lane so that the scope of services could be further extended. Our first centre outside Wanchai (named Central and Western District Elderly Community Centre) was established in 1990. Since then, different service centres have been developed and most of them are located along the north coast of Hong Kong Island, from The Belcher’s in Western to Hing Wah Estate in Chai Wan. In recent years, in view of the society’s ever changing needs, we have opened service centres in Kowloon and the New Territories. To date, our 64 service points are in operation across Hong Kong. By the end of September 2019, we have over 1,400 staff members to provide a vast range of high quality services for people of different ages and needs. In the past year, around 3,200 volunteers have helped in different service units.
Website: http://www.sjs.org.hk
 
Media Contacts
St. James’ Settlement
Sara Lit
Corporate Communication Officer
Phone: +852 2596 2715 / 6295 9397
e-mail: [email protected]
 
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Lilian Goh
Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2820 3481
e-mail: [email protected]

 
 
Standard Chartered Bank (Incorporated with limited liability in England by Royal Charter)
Standard Chartered PLC (Incorporated as a public limited company in England and Wales)