Young job hunters upskill their search for work

"You apply, apply and apply. When you constantly get rejected it takes its toll."

CJ Turner describes the tough reality of looking for a job. But he remains undeterred, and says he now has new confidence.

He is taking part in Upskill Peterborough, a university programme to help young people boost their search for work.

"It's making a big difference not just to me, but to everyone on the course," said the 22-year-old from Corby.

"You know you're trying as hard as you can, but you're not getting the opportunities," he added.

"I was doing warehouse work to try and make ends meet, but I thought I'd take that step to achieving something I wanted to do."

Figures from the Department for Education show 3.9% of 16 to 17-year-olds in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were not in education, employment or training in 2025 - above the national average of 3.4%.

The course, run by ARU Peterborough and funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority through the government's Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme, combines learning hands-on skills with visits to local businesses to give an insight into career opportunities.

It includes a group project where new skills are applied to a real-world challenge. Participants present solutions to a panel of industry experts.

They get help to create a professionally-written CV and look at ways of getting into further education or employment.

Esther Adeyemi, 21, from Peterborough, studied abroad for a civil engineering degree, but has not been able to find work here.

She said she had been finding out what she needed to work on.

"It's really opening my eyes to thinking of other options I could go for," she said.

Ayesha Huzefa, 21, from Peterborough, said the course had been boosting her confidence.

Looking for a career in childcare, she has now upgraded her CV.

"Because I was not getting jobs, my confidence was shattered," she said.

"I was feeling really sad and low because I was not getting the jobs I wanted, but this is helping me a lot."

"This is more than a course – we hope it will be a launchpad for personal growth, professional development and meaningful progression," said Dr Esther Norton, ARU Peterborough's assistant principal.

"The young people will get to sharpen their employability skills, such as communication and digital literacy, while exploring real-world workplaces.

"We hope Upskill Peterborough will break down barriers as well as nurture local talent."

Machinery manufacturer Caterpillar, which makes diesel engines in Peterborough, where it employs 4,000 people, gave tours of its Europe research and development centre.

Simon Cotton, director of engineering, said: "We've been employing a large number of people on this site for almost a century now and we always need new talent to come here, and help keep the business alive.

"It's great to help some people who are struggling to find their way locally into a new career path."

The job seekers also got an insight into the food industry at Weetabix's Burton Latimer headquarters in Northamptonshire.

Stuart Branch, IT and HR director, said: "We're passionate about helping young people understand the breadth of opportunities available in modern food manufacturing.

"Opening our doors through programmes like Upskill Peterborough allows us to inspire future talent, build confidence, and show just how many rewarding career paths exist within our business."

Separate to the programme, business leaders have been working with schools and colleges in the city to try and help young people get into the jobs market.

The Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern about Peterborough having one of the highest rates of young people not in employment, education or training.

Its CEO, Charlotte Horobin, said: "Upskill Peterborough is a fantastic programme, giving young people skills, confidence, and hands-on workplace experience.

"It's exactly the kind of initiative that can inspire people and offer hope in today's challenging skills landscape.

"All of this momentum is encouraging, but sustained investment and collaboration are essential if we are to prepare the next generation for the future."

Back at ARU Peterborough, Turner was reflecting on what he had got out of it.

"It gives you an extra step to getting the job you want.

"It helps boost that confidence back up. They've really helped me with my future and what I want to achieve in life."

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