A well-known high street retailer has teamed up with a charity and the local council to offer work experience to unemployed single parents in Sutton.

Marks & Spencer has joined forces with single-parent charity Gingerbread and Sutton Council to run the three-part Marks & Start scheme which aims to boost the confidence of single-parents and their chances of finding work.

Beginning with three days of work focussed training, course participants will gain two weeks of work experience in a Marks & Spencer store, where they will work as part of busy team in a number of departments, developing retail skills. Gingerbread’s team then offer support after the placement to help participants find work.

Amanda Cherrington, Head of Economic Renewal and Regeneration said:

“The Marks & Start scheme is part of the Sutton Skills Match Strategy and is something which single-parents who are out of work will find really useful.

“Apart from gaining the experience of working for a national retailer like M&S, they will receive advice on how they can transfer their skills, write a stand-out CV or job application and develop their interview skills.”

The Marks & Start scheme will also highlight some of the help available to single-parents, such as childcare, employment rights and benefit entitlements.

The programme starts on Friday 6 June and runs from 10:00am until 3:00pm Monday to Friday for three weeks

It is expected to be a very popular programme with limited spaces available. Any single parent Sutton residents interested in taking part can call 0800 652 3166 for more information and to sign up.