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Nestlé unveils the "Alliance for YOUth" in Europe

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Lija, Malta

Nestlé is building on the success of its "Nestlé Needs YOUth" employment initiative - designed to help tackle youth unemployment in Europe - by creating a new scheme with its business partners called "Alliance for YOUth".

To date "Nestlé Needs YOUth" has helped almost 5,000 young people find work or training opportunities.

The "Alliance for YOUth" will help to mobilise companies who are determined to play a positive role in getting the young people of Europe into work.

Today in Lisbon, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Prime Minister of Portugal, Pedro Passos Coelho and the Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal, Paulo Portas, and the Minister of Solidarity, Employment and Social Security, Pedro Mota Soares, joined Nestlé Europe CEO Laurent Freixe and Nestlé's business partners to sign up to the European Commission's "European Alliance for Apprenticeships".

"With more than 150 companies from all over Europe joining, Nestlé's "Alliance for YOUth" is the first pan-European business-driven movement pledging to improve the chances for our young people in a challenging job market" said Laurent Freixe, CEO Nestlé Europe.

With more than 150 companies from all over Europe joining, Nestlé's “Alliance for YOUth” is the first pan-European business-driven movement pledging to improve the chances for our young people in a challenging job marketLaurent Freixe, CEO Nestlé Europe

Commission President Barroso said "I commend this initiative in supporting the European Commission's "European Alliance for Apprenticeships" by substantially increasing the efforts on promoting vocational training and offering apprenticeships/traineeships across Europe.

Nestlé partners Adecco, Axa, Cargill, CHEP, DS Smith, EY, Facebook, Firmenich, Google, Nielsen, Publicis Groupe, Salesforce.com, Twitter, and White&Case signed the pledge during the event.

13 Portuguese companies, businesses partners of Nestlé Portugal, also joined the Alliance. 

Other partners from across Europe who are joining the "Alliance for YOUth" will be announced in September.

"On top of Nestlé's commitment to offer 500 opportunities in Portugal, our local business partners have committed to offer at least 8,000 opportunities over the next 3 years" said Jacques Reber,CEO Nestlé Portugal.

The "Alliance for YOUth" pledge

The "Alliance for YOUth", founded by Nestlé, is an alliance of leading companies in Europe who recognise that youth unemployment is a major social and economic issue on the continent and are committed to helping to solve it. The "Alliance for YOUth" pledges to:

  1. Be an active member of the European Commission's "European Alliance for Apprenticeships" – promoting apprenticeships and training and being active ambassadors for this approach across Europe.
  2. Develop a number of joint initiatives to give young people meaningful work experience and internships.
  3. Mobilise employees to go out into the community and help young people get 'Ready for Work' by offering CV preparation and interview advice. 

Related stories:

Strong start for Nestlé’s youth employment initiative

http://www.nestle.com/media/newsandfeatures/strong-start-for-nestle-youth-employment-initiative

Nestlé launches Youth Employment Initiative in Europe

http://www.nestle.com/media/newsandfeatures/nestle-european-youth-employment-initiative

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