woensdag, 6 december 2006

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De Amerikaanse ijsgigant Ben and Jerry's heeft met een franchise constructie, ook wel partner SHOP genoemd, het management van een ijswinkel aan het Aberdeen Foyer overgedaan. Dit initiatief biedt jonge werkzoekenden, tussen de 16 en 25 jaar, weer een toekomstperspectief in de vorm van een baan en ondersteuning bij het opdoen van werkervaring en sociale vaardigheden.

Aberdeen Foyer opens Ben and Jerrys PartnerShop

On Thursday 16 November, National Social Enterprise Day, representatives of ethical ice cream maker, Ben & Jerry's, will handover the management of a new 'PartnerShop' to Foyer Enterprise, the trading arm of Aberdeen Foyer.

The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop in Aberdeen's Bon Accord Centre is the first franchise of its kind in Scotland.

A 'PartnerShop' is a Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop franchise owned and operated by a non-profit organisation. The primary aim of the 'PartnerShop' is to offer supported training and employment opportunities to unemployed young people thereby not only giving them help in starting a career but also supporting the community at large.

The Trainee Retail Assistants at Ben & Jerry’s in the Bon Accord Centre are young unemployed people aged 16-25 years who are keen to work in the catering/hospitality industry in the future. They will be trained, as a minimum, in Food Hygiene and Customer Care with the possibility of accessing additional accredited training via Aberdeen Foyer's partnership with Aberdeen College. An Aberdeen Foyer Youth Worker will also support the trainees where necessary for non business related matters like confidence building and motivation.

Shell U.K. Limited has donated £10,000 to assist in this training. Shell's Communications Manager, Deirdre Michie said: "We are delighted that Shell's financial support for Aberdeen Foyer's new initiative is specifically aimed at sustaining the training and support element of its programme which is undertaken with local young people - helping them into work - and making a difference in the community."

Ben and Jerry's has helped thousands of young people since the first PartnerShop opened in the US in 1985. The company’s Social Mission has formed a big part of all their work since Ben & Jerry opened their first scoop shop in Vermont in 1978 using local cream and milk and large chunks of nuts, fruits, sweets and biscuits. As well as continuing to use natural ingredients Ben and Jerry enshrined an ethical dimension in the business that addressed the welfare of their employees and the way it operated locally, nationally and internationally.

Ben & Jerry’s Retail Operations Manager, Mark Stewart-Maunder (who’s been overseeing the launch) says: “Our hippy co-founder, Ben Cohen once said that business has a responsibility to give back to the community and Ben & Jerry’s has lived by those words ever since. Our Partnershop initiative is part of this philosophy and has helped thousands of youths get back into employment since it launched in the US in 1985. This is a long term commitment by Ben & Jerry’s to help make a difference in Aberdeen.”

Edel Harris, Deputy Chief Executive Aberdeen Foyer said; "Supporting people into employment is at the heart of all our services at Aberdeen Foyer. The success of many social enterprises relies on partnerships either with the public or private sector and we are very happy to be working together with Ben and Jerry's in this exciting new venture"


Notes to Editor:

1. Social enterprise is among the fastest growing parts of the Scottish Economy. It is a dynamic way of doing business that can transform communities, making a positive contribution to society.

2. Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop Programme is a form of social enterprise, a growing movement in which not for profit organisations leverage the power of business for community benefit.
PartnerShops are Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops that are independently owned and operated by community-based not for profit organisations. Ben & Jerry’s waives the standard franchise fees and provides additional support to help organisations operate strong businesses.
PartnerShops offer job and entrepreneurial training to young people that may face barriers to employment. As PartnerShop operators, not for profits retain their business proceeds to support their programmes.
PartnerShops help people build better lives.

3. Aberdeen Foyer:
All young people need a home, and a springboard to independent living, learning and work. Some don’t have it. Aberdeen Foyer helps fill the gap.
Aberdeen Foyer is a successful, local charitable organisation working to prevent and alleviate youth homelessness and unemployment in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Aberdeen Foyer provides supported accommodation and access to a range of education, training and employment opportunities for young people aged 16-25. The Foyer works to enable homeless and disadvantaged young people achieve social and economic independence.

For further information: Edel Harris, 07816669623