TIME is running out for 16–18-year-olds living in Cumbria to sign up for potentially life-changing opportunities.

The closing date for young people to submit their applications for their Dream Placement is Friday, October 21. That’s also the deadline for businesses which want to host students and help fund the programme.

Dream Placement aims to partner motivated and ambitious young people with some of the most successful businesses in the county for a unique week-long placement during the February 2023 half-term break.

More than 150 students applied for Dream Placement 2022 with more than 50 securing Dream Placements with 40 hosts.

Those confirmed again for 2023 include Sellafield Ltd, Allerdale, Carlisle City Council, Jacobs, NHS, Cumbria Tourism, Simon Rogan, NDA, Mott Mac, Gen2, the University of Cumbria, National Nuclear Laboratory and 32 West.

The scheme was co-created by the CforLP and local businesses 11 years ago to address the ‘brain drain’ out of Cumbria by bringing young people together with businesses to help them gain vital leadership skills, and make informed choices about their futures within the county.

The programme gives all young people who apply the chance to learn first-hand about leadership, develop their own leadership abilities and business skills, and offers development opportunities and a chance to work with employers at each stage of the six-month programme.

Over 11 years since the programme began, more than 2,000 young people have benefited from their involvement with Dream Placement.

Thomas Shaw had his Dream Placement in 2017 and now works in Nuclear Operations. He said: "It was an incredibly beneficial placement and an enabling factor that delivered my first job in the Nuclear Industry. The Centre for Leadership Performance Cumbria also has a fantastic network of experienced professionals connecting with young people and driving this great opportunity!"

For more information visit www.cforlp.org.uk