The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP, The Prime Minister, today (June 22) launched Transco Green Futures, a partnership project between Transco, a BG plc business which owns and operates most of Britain's gas transportation infrastructure, and the leading environmental charity, Groundwork. The project, which is funded by the BG Foundation to the tune of £1 million over 3 years, will secure work and training for up to 1,500 unemployed young people.

The Transco Green Futures scheme, in co-ordination with the Government's New Deal programme, is launching environmental improvement and energy efficiency related projects in Merseyside, the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and the North West.

Many of these areas have never recovered from the loss of traditional industries such as coal mining and ship-building - and in some inner city estates youth unemployment is as high as 80 per cent.

The programme aims to bridge the gap between long-term unemployment and mainstream jobs and will offer 18 to 24-year-olds the opportunity of 12 months paid employment. This programme enhances considerably the six months' training programme under New Deal. Placements will be paid an average £120 a week and offered training up to NVQ Level 3. Help to find permanent employment or further training will also be given.

The donation from Transco (BG), worth up to £1 million, is helping to secure another £14 million in EC and other Government grants and private sector sponsorship.

David Varney, BG's Chief Executive, who also chairs the Government's New Deal London Employers' Coalition, said: "We are very excited about this ground-breaking programme which links together two areas of importance to the Company, that of sustained environmental improvement and tackling youth unemployment. We have established the BG Foundation to tackle social and environmental problems in partnership with both voluntary and public sectors. Through Transco Green Futures we are offering young people a real solution to unemployment. They will receive 12 months training and employment, which will provide them with a wide range of skills".

Phil Nolan, Managing Director of Transco, is a committed supporter of the new programme and commented today: "We are pleased to be supporting the Transco Green Futures programme. It reinforces our link with the local communities in which we work and will enable our Transco employees to play an active part in improving the environment for local people".

Tony Hawkhead, Groundwork Chief Executive, said: "The great thing about Green Futures is that it provides access into employment for those young people who need most support."

Individual Groundwork Trusts will be drawing on the support of Transco regional personnel in each of the project areas as well as working closely with local authorities, business networks, TECs and other regeneration agencies.

The projects will be closely monitored to determine their effectiveness and identify best practice methods, which can be applied elsewhere.

In year two, it is planned to expand the programme into South Wales, South Tyneside and the Black Country.

Notes to editors:

• BG plc is a leading international energy company whose activities include gas market development, exploration and production, gas transmission, distribution and storage, liquefied natural gas, power generation and energy technology. BG is not an abbreviation for British Gas.

• Transco operates Britain's pipeline network and is part of BG plc.

• Groundwork is a leading environmental regeneration charity which involves 60,000 adult volunteers and over 120,000 schoolchildren in sustainable development projects each year.

• The BG Foundation has an annual charity budget of £3 million and support three main areas of activity: environment, community well-being and life-long learning.

• Over the next three years, up to 1,500 long term unemployed young people will be given paid work and training to help regenerate their area. The project then helps them to find permanent employment. The organisers are anticipating a 60% success rate.
  

• Transco Green Futures will lead to qualifications, enhanced confidence, increased employability and young people securing jobs, whilst creating a better environment.

• Next year, Groundwork is planning to launch additional programmes in the Black Country, South Tyneside and South Wales.

• New Deal is a Government priority policy concerned with the social and economic consequences of having large numbers of young people on long-term welfare benefit.

• Cost per trainee per year is approximately £15,000 (including training and salary).

TRANSCO GREEN FUTURES PROJECTS - YEAR ONE

EAST MIDLANDS - 78 placements

Creswell

• Manton Green Force - 10 placements
  Improving the environment of public housing areas and providing subsidised energy efficiency to the homes of those in need.

• Rotherham Rural Task Force - 10 placements
  Co-ordinated upgrading and improvement of countryside sites and facilities and working with schools and developing educational material

• Carlton & Langold - 10 placements
  Co-ordinated upgrading and improvement of countryside sites and facilities and working with schools and developing educational material

Ashfield and Mansfield

• EnProve - Ashfield Energy - 16 placements
  Energy surveys and the installation of energy saving and security measures.

• EnProve - Newstead Countryside - 16 placements
  Woodland and countryside management and small community enterprises (based on sustainable woodland management)

• EnProve - Newark & Sherwood Countryside - 16 placements
  Countryside management and other projects

SOUTH YORKSHIRE - 45 placements

Dearne Valley

• Kilnhurst- 10 placements
  Environmental improvements, provision of community facilities and preparatory work for setting up a small enterprise in the village of Kilnhurst

• Bolton Upon Dearne - 10 placements
  Environmental improvements, provision of community facilities and preparatory work for setting up a small enterprise in the village of Bolton Upon Dearne

Leeds

• Chapeltown and Harehills - 20 placements
  Horticultural and landscape work, helping to "design out" crime and increase community safety

NORTH WEST - 100 placements

Manchester

• Construction Skills - 12 placements
  Partnership with housing associations and other groups to carry out community and environmental benefits to complement housing renewal and environmental programmes in the Stockport Road Corridor Partnership area

• North Manchester Construction - 12 placements
  Partnership with North Manchester Regeneration and other groups to carry out community and environmental benefits to complement housing renewal and environmental projects in Cheetham North and East Manchester

• East Manchester Construction - 8 placements
  Environmental improvements and housing renewal in the Openshaw area

MERSEYSIDE - up to100 placements

Liverpool and St. Helens

• Green Apprentices Ltd
  Carrying out a range of local environmental improvement initiatives across Merseyside identified by local residents and the business community. Projects include landscaping and horticulture, construction, countryside management, environmental art and working with SMEs to develop environmental management systems.