Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN)

JOB DESCRIPTION: - Trade Up Project Coordinator

Salary: £23,945

Hours:35 per week (full time)

Contract: The position is fixed term currently funded untilFebruary 2015.

Position to be based in GMYN’s office in Ardwick.

Staff Role

The Project Coordinator will support the development and delivery of GMYN’s exciting new Trade Up project funded through the RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise Fund.

The role involves developing and delivering a new youth training programme to support and motivate groups of disabled young people from across Greater Manchester to develop their entrepreneurial skills and run their own market-based business idea.

Project Overview

Through the project, participants will receive a combination of training, practical experience, mentoring, business advice, links to markets (in partnership with Manchester Markets) and practical start-up support. This will boost their skills and confidence to enable them to develop a business idea and through intensive support from the post holder, they will gain the skills and confidence to go on to create their own, independent, market-based enterprises.

There are two stages to the support we will provide to the young people.

  • Stage 1 offers a powerful engagement, support and education package which will inspire and embolden the young people to develop their own enterprises.
  • Stage 2 will support young people with the first steps of establishing new enterprises.

In stage 1, the Trade Up training programme will support disabled young people aged 16-30 to develop and run their own market business idea. Groups of young people will work together to come up with an idea, develop it as a business and then deliver it. We will facilitate group work sessions which develop their confidence, knowledge and skills and they will then be supported to deliver live market trading days – gaining real experience of running a real business.

Stage 2 – On The Market - will build on this by providing ongoing mentoring and practical start up support to young people to enable them to run their own market stalls for 6 months (either as individuals or in partnership with other young people). Our links with Manchester Markets will enable people to make a supported transition into running a market-based enterprise. We will also provide support with start up costs.

Staff responsibilities

  • Development and delivery of the Trade Up entrepreneur trainingprogramme to the agreed targets/outcomes.
  • Support the young disabled people during the project to communicate with each other, develop their teamwork and maintain commitment to the project.
  • Provide ongoing mentoring and practical start up support to enable the young disabled people to deliver their business idea via their own market stalls.
  • Engage and develop relationships with relevant organisations and stakeholders including disability organisations, the wider voluntary youth sector and Manchester Markets.
  • Provide further enterprise advice and support for the young participants to identify other non-market based enterprise ideas if relevant.
  • Be responsible for the safety of the young people during the project and deal with any issues that may arise.
  • Work closely with GMYN’s Project Manager throughout the project during delivery.
  • Deliver the project in line with GMYN’s youth participation strategy and other service delivery.

Personal Specification

For the post of Trade Up Project Coordinator, applicants must demonstrate in the application form that they have the necessary knowledge, experience and skills to gain an interview.

Knowledge/Experience:

  • Relevant experience of working with young disabled people aged 16-30
  • A good general level of education
  • Knowledge and understanding of working with young disabled people taking part in training / volunteering activities
  • Understanding of diversity and inclusion
  • Experience of working with and/or alongside volunteers/being a volunteer
  • Experience of working successfully in partnership with a range of organisations.
  • Experience of working with young people/groups of young people in a participatory way.
  • Knowledge of policy and practice of safeguarding young people

Skills:

  • Ability to engage and develop relationships with young people from a wide range of backgrounds and with various disabilities.
  • Demonstrate ability to support young people to overcome barriers.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to young people and organisations
  • Ability to effectively challenge any negative behaviour
  • Ability to provide ongoing support to young people throughout their training/learning, with a particular focus on skills, development and progression
  • A flexible approach, excellent organisational skills and the ability to plan and manage your own workload

Desirable attributes:

  • Qualified Youth Worker or equivalent
  • Experience of entrepreneurship work in any setting.
  • Health and Safety/ Risk assessment experience
  • Use of IT i.e. word processing, spreadsheets, databases
  • Use of own vehicle

Working hours/location

The post will be based at GMYN’s offices in Manchester and the activities will be delivered across various areas across Greater Manchester.

The hours of work are those necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role. This will involve working unsocial hours in evenings and at weekends, as well as during the day.

Equal Opportunities:

The Project Worker will be expected to work within the principles of equal opportunities and to implement all aspects of GMYN’s equality and diversity policy.

The post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Deadline for applications:Thursday 5th December, 12 noon

(applications received after this time will be marked as late and may not be included for short listing).