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Standard Chartered and St. James’ Settlement launch phase-2 of Youth Employment Programme
Standard Chartered and St. James’ Settlement launch phase-2 of Youth Employment Programme 2021-08-02
Press Release
Standard Chartered and St. James’ Settlement launch phase-2
of Youth Employment Programme
of Youth Employment Programme
- HK$5 million to subsidise SMEs for hiring recent graduates
- Guaranteed job interviews for over 400 youths
(Hong Kong, 28th July 2021) Hiring intention for businesses in Hong Kong has been low and youth employment is severely impacted as the economy is hardly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following its successful launch in October 2020, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (“Standard Chartered Hong Kong”) and St. James’ Settlement are delighted to join hands and introduce the second phase of the programme. The Standard Chartered Foundation will donate HK$5 million to subsidise small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) to hire recent graduates and over 400 youths are expected to be benefited.
Up to HK$39,000 Wage Subsidies
Over a hundred of local SMEs are expected to participate in the second phase of the programme and offer job opportunities for graduates on the SME job matching platform. Corporates will receive half of the wages of each youth hired or up to HK$39,000 over a 6-month period. Participating youths will also be provided job seeking skills and employment trainings as well as guaranteed interview opportunities within two weeks of the launch of the programme.
Mary Huen, Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered Hong Kong, said: “The first phase of the programme was well received with about 100 corporates participating and offering over 600 full-time and gig job opportunities. A total of 450 youths received pre-employment training and 145 of them were hired. By supporting the second phase of the programme, Standard Chartered would like to continue to support SMEs by alleviating their short term wage cost as well as to help youths land their first job and gain valuable working experience during this tough economic times.”
Nearly 90% Participants Improved their Job-hunting Skills
St. James’ Settlement conducted a survey and interviewed the participants of last year to evaluate the programme and understand the employment needs of youths. According to the survey, majority of the respondents agreed that the programme helped improve their job-hunting skills and abilities (88.2%) and expanded their interpersonal networks (80.3%). 75% of the respondents said that the programme helped them get job referral. The participants also said that the programme helped boosted their confidence in various areas. About 64% of respondents said they understand the employment trend in Hong Kong, 12 percentage points higher prior to the programme.
Josephine Lee, Chief Executive Officer of St. James’ Settlement, said: “According to our research, we found that nearly 40% of the participants feared or frustrated about their career prospects. We highly appreciate Standard Chartered Bank for supporting ‘Futuremakers’ First Job Youth Employment and Subsidy Programme’ these 2 years, strengthening graduates’ confidence and enhancing their employability. We are pleased to see that more than 70% of the young people has increased their confidence level towards job-hunting, career planning and identification of career goals after their participation of the first phased programme. We will cooperate with more employers from different industries in the second phase of the programme, encouraging them to provide a greater variety of job opportunities that enables youths to uncover their potentials and improve their career planning.”
Helping SMEs to Understand the “Top 10 Gig Jobs”
As the gig working model, such as temporary job, part-time job and freelance job, has taken off across the globe in recent years, it is also becoming more acceptable among job seekers and corporates in Hong Kong. This year, the programme categorises job opportunities into “Top 10 Gig Jobs”, including content creation, multimedia production, event coordination, editing, and provides recruitment frameworks, such as reference salary, hiring criteria and contract clause, to help SMEs to grasp the key to recruiting.
Open for Applications Now
“Futuremakers’ First Job Youth Employment and Subsidy Programme” is now open for applications. Interested local SMEs and youth can visit the programme’s website (https://futuremakers.firstjob.hk/) for more details. For any enquiries, please call at 2596-2569 or email [email protected].
About “Futuremakers’ First Job Youth Employment and Subsidy Programme”
To support youth employment and help SMEs weather the difficult time, St. James’ Settlement and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited jointly introduced the “Futuremakers’ First Job Youth Employment and Subsidy Programme” in 2020. The programme encouraged SMEs to provide full time or short-term job opportunities for graduates by subsidising half of the wages of the youths employed. In 2021, the Standard Chartered Foundation donated another HK$5 million to launch the second phase of the programme. The maximum amount of subsidy is raised and participates will be guaranteed job interview opportunities in two weeks under the new phase. SMEs would be able to explore suitable talents through the job matching platform, while DSE, post-secondary and university graduates will be able to find job opportunities which suits their interests and abilities.
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
Start PR
Vanesse Lai
Phone: +852 6762 0215
e-mail: [email protected]
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Nicole Lo
Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3843 0331
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)
Vanesse Lai
Phone: +852 6762 0215
e-mail: [email protected]
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Nicole Lo
Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3843 0331
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)
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