Young people are being equipped for their first jobs by a Coventry firm.

John Astley & Sons Industrial Consumables Division in Gosford Street is supplying work boots and overalls to young people being trained by Birmingham-based training charity, Greenspring Training.

The charity provides training in manufacturing skills, information technology, administration and basic skills to young people with a wide range of abilities including those with special needs.

Greenspring's manager Victor Collard says:

"Some of the trainees come to us with educational problems, others have poor literacy or numeracy or just lack confidence. We train them in National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ's) levels 1 and 2 and give them the additional support and guidance they need to secure a job."

Trainees who come to learn craft skills in the training workshop are measured up for protective clothing as soon as they arrive and the details phoned through to Astleys for next day delivery.

Victor says:

"Because we are a charity we cannot afford to keep a large stock of boots and overalls in different sizes, so we rely on the Astley's service. It is very important to the trainees to be correctly equipped with their own work clothes as quickly as possible so that they can start their training."

Many of the trainees take their workwear with them when they leave Greenspring to take up jobs or further training.

More than 80 per cent of young people trained by Greenspring go on to find employment with help from the charity. The majority also gain NVQ's in machine and assembly work, information technology or administration.

Trudi Smith, account manager for Astleys industrial Consumables Division said:

"It is very satisfying to see these youngsters being helped into employment when many of them have had such a tough start in life - we are delighted to be able to support Greenspring's work."