An Ipswich-based youth employment service has helped over 150 young people find work in the town’s retail and leisure sector.

MyGo, which offers free training, careers advice and support for people aged 16 -24, facilitated the recruitment of employees for a number of operators opening new outlets on Ipswich’s Anglia Retail Park on Bury Road.

The businesses to benefit from MyGo’s input include home ware and leisure retailers The Range and B&M, and Bounce, a new trampoline centre.

The new jobs are a mix of part-time and full-time positions and include a diverse mix of roles from sales assistants, warehouse workers and trampoline bouncers to hosts, café baristas, receptionists and retail assistants.

Employer relationship manager at MyGo Chris Widdowfield said: “ We take pride in helping such a large number of local talent prepare for and start their careers.

“From as sustainability point of view, this opportunity has had a major impact on the lives of the young people and the economy of those businesses. It has also opened up various new opportunities and career progression for those young people that finally have their foot in the door, ensuring they are less likely to fall out of work again.”

During the recruitment process, MyGo offered employers use of its Princes Street offices in central Ipswich to hold interviews and induction days. It also helped a number of vulnerable young people who have special needs or who live in supported housing to obtain jobs.

Retailer B&M recruited 64 young people via recruitment days that MyGo organised.

Its store manager at the Anglia Retail Park, Ashley Wheelhouse, said: “MyGo provided a dedicated recruitment team that matched our requirements through pre-screening potential employees for availability and experience, as well as flexibility. This really helped us have a great mix of young people from different backgrounds that fit in well with the experienced staff that transferred from local stores, and these new colleagues brought local area knowledge with them, which is always helpful.

He added: “Their collaborative approach provides value by saving time, money and energy due to the free recruitment matching service, dedicated employment team and work ready employees.”