SYDNEY, 2 February 2017 — Jamaica Blue believes in giving back to the community and that begins with the nation’s youth. The company has committed to a long-term partnership with Beacon Foundation – the national charity organisation supporting young people from disadvantaged communities to complete Year 12 and successfully transition into meaningful careers.
Drew Eide, Brand Manager at Jamaica Blue, believes the partnership is a perfect fit, in that both organisations value working with young Australians to ensure they have the skills, capabilities and opportunities to be successful in life and work.
“We employ over 1,500 people in our cafés across Australia and a large number of those are under the age of 25. We are proud of Jamaica Blue’s record of creating employment opportunities for young people and giving them an introduction to the world of work, and we see Beacon Foundation’s Programs as an extension of that,” said Drew.
To kick off the partnership, Jamaica Blue hosted a showcase program at their headquarters in Sydney. 15 high school students from Nepean CAPA took part in a one-day workshop as part of the Polish Program to develop a range of relevant job-seeking skills.
“The students were really impressive, embracing the concept of creating brand personas as well as understanding the kind of skills employers look for and how to sell themselves in the context of a job interview,” said Drew. “It was a rewarding day and we’re looking forward to working closely with the Beacon Foundation and our local Jamaica Blue communities to encourage more young students to establish meaningful careers.”
Scott Harris, CEO of Beacon Foundation says they are incredibly excited to work with Jamaica Blue to inspire young people across the country. “The great thing about this partnership is giving franchisees the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of young people in their local communities. We’re hoping to be able to assist many more students, in areas that need it most, to be better prepared to transition successfully into the workforce,” he says.
For more information, visit Jamaica Blue at www.jamaicablue.com.au and the Beacon Foundation at www.beaconfoundation.com.au
Michelle Bartolo
