A TEENAGER from Grove has backed a new scheme to help young jobless people back into work.

Patrick Toplis, 18, was a ‘Neet’ (teenagers Not in Education, Employment or Training) just over a year ago.

But he was offered the chance to take an eight-week internship to gain work experience with Abingdon company Dreamcarhire, which hires out supercars including Ferraris, Bentleys and Aston Martins.

Now he has a full-time job at the company working with the cars he loves, a rented home, where he lives with girlfriend Sharon, and a car – even if it is not quite as flash as those he works with.

And he is backing Neet Interface, a new scheme set up by an Oxfordshire businessman to help the growing number of Neets find a job.

He said: “I would advise anyone who is in the position I was in to go to the Neet Interface and get work experience.

“You have to work for it but it opens doors. And you get to socialise with different groups of people.”

The scheme has been created by successful entrepreneur Jon Treanor to give young people valuable workplace experience.

Mr Treanor, 56 and chairman of Milton Park-based business consultancy Conduit Partners, and former chief executive of Oxford University spin-off company Celoxica, which provides high speed computer hardware for City traders – said: “We are now piloting the scheme in Oxfordshire but there is no reason why it shouldn’t go national in due course.

“There are between 750 and 1,000 Neets in Oxfordshire at the moment.

“More than half of them are girls, but there are no internships for unqualified people.

“Clearly there is a missing link in the chain here. They need an opportunity to gain work experience.”

Latest figures show UK youth unemployment running at 991,000, with the number of 16- and 17-year-olds out of work increasing by 3,000 to 205,000. Mr Treanor said the idea is to bring Neets and employers together. And he thought he was the man to do the job since he has been both in his time.

He and co-founder Emma Earl, a community volunteer on Oxfordshire County Council’s Youth Offending team, presented the idea to about 30 business leaders earlier this year at Frilford Heath Golf Club.

Mr Treanor said: “The response was extremely encouraging, with 71 per cent of potential employers saying they would take a Neet for an internship.”

The scheme is funded from fees paid by participating companies, depending on the size and nature of their business.

Next year Dreamcarhire plan to sponsor Mr Topliss on a mechanical engineering course at Abingdon and Witney College.

Dreamcarhire managing director Simon Thrussell said: “We are delighted with Patrick.

“He can do far more than just clean cars. For instance, he can repair wheels that have hit the kerb. And he has learned a lot from his mentor here, Eddie Turner.”

Last year Mr Treanor achieved a brief period of national fame when he appeared on the reality BBC2 TV show The Big Silence. He and four other participants had to remain silent for a total of 11 days, with the help of Benedictine monks.

* Mr Treanor will launch the Neet Interface on November 25 at Madeley Park Hall, Witney, at 12.30pm. Anyone interested in attending should call 07500 726444 or email katie@neetinterface.co.uk