RECRUITMENT specialists from Russell Taylor Group have been encouraging girls to aim high for their job goals as they joined Merseyside Police for the first Leasowe United Community Day on Wirral.

Led by chairman Peter Russell, they also partnered up with local training providers and community groups to introduce young women living on the Leasowe estate to life-changing opportunities and inspire them to take their first career steps.

The community day, held at Leasowe Recreation Centre, had evolved from work by Constable Alison Inman and Constable Claire Ryan, from the force’s Wirral Community Team, and aimed at creating safer communities and greater opportunities for the estate’s young people.

Top sporting action also formed part of the Leasowe United project as around 150 young sportswomen, aged between 12 and 17 from all over Wirral, competed in an all-female football tournament, designed to build their confidence and realise their potential both on and off the pitch. 

Operating from the ground’s Talent Tent, Peter and his team - group HR manager Jennifer Scott, Manufacturing Division manager Kelly Newell, Hannah Williams, who runs Scientific Division’s Certification Desk, Isaac Hayes, a former apprentice and now labour co-ordinator, along with Zoe Beard, business support co-ordinator with Russell Taylor Group subsidiary NMS Recruit - gave valuable one-to-one advice to the girls to help set them on the road to further education, apprenticeships and employment.

Peter said: “It was an amazing day and a delight to see so many girls showing their competitive spirit and really giving their all to a full day of high-action football.

“With our support team of coaches, inspirational achievers and employment recruiters, our role there was to help channel the girls’ energy and skills into the next important stage of their lives - the development of their careers.

“Hopefully, we helped to kick-start employment goals and make a difference to the future of these young people.”

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy added: “Merseyside Police are committed to working with our partners and communities and Leasowe United is a great example of what can be achieved when working together.

“Initiatives like this that offer our young people an opportunity to bring all their potential to the fore are so important. I hope this inspires them to embrace new challenges and to take the steps to further education or into the world of work.”

Russell Taylor Group, main sponsor of Leasowe United, was joined in the Talent Tent by its professional partners Willaston Physio, who provided a physiotherapy service throughout the day for the young players, while The Hive Youth Zone, also supported by the business, had qualified youth workers on hand to give advice about a full range of issues affecting young people to raise their aspirations and confidence.