BOURNEMOUTH’S biggest private sector employer, JP Morgan, has teamed up with the Prince’s Trust in a bid to get more young people into the health and care sector.

The banking giant is putting up £540,000, which will help turn the NHS pre-employment support programme Get Started With Health into an online package.

JPMorgan Chase will also help the Prince’s Trust increase its outreach efforts, job placement, mentoring and coaching support for young people.

In the next 11 months, more than 1,000 young people will receive support through the programme. They will be connected with work opportunities, with the aim of securing roles in the health and care sectors.

Ruby Smith, NHS director at the Prince’s Trust, said: "There is an incredible amount of talent, skill and insight that young people could be contributing to our healthcare system, particularly at this time of great need. We're delighted to be working with JPMorgan Chase to connect young people who are looking for work with the employers in health and social care who are looking for their future workforce.

“For young people and for our healthcare system, we're living in uncertain and scary times, but we are here to offer some hope. There's no doubt this collaboration will empower young people to make transformational changes to their futures and will add unquantifiable benefits to our healthcare system."

Vis Raghavan, chief executive of JP Morgan in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said: “The Covid-19 crisis is having a profound impact on the economy and it is hitting our under-served communities the hardest, and also families and individuals on a low income. Through essential collaboration with local government, businesses and community organizations, and by using our business expertise, we are lifting up communities in need.”

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, JP Morgan Chase has invested 11.2million US dollars – around £8.75m – across the EMEA area, aimed at people disproportionately affected by the crisis. The Prince’s Trust partnership takes its UK investment to £2.2m.

The digitising of the Get Started With Health and Social Care programme is part of a £1.4m commitment by JP Morgan which also includes:

* Working with the Social Mobility Foundation to support young people from low income backgrounds with equipment and connectivity so they can access virtual work experience, mentoring and webinars.

* Enabling Citizens Advice Bureau to offer extended support during the coronavirus crisis, through online self-help content and expanding its phone service through remote subscriptions for advisers.

* Allowing a three to six month loan repayment holiday or grace period to around 4,000 of the 6,000 low-income clients of Fair Finance, a community development finance institution in London.