Businesses will be recognised for helping young people with employment opportunities.

Youth Employment Strategy (YES), which works with business across Epping Forest  to help 13-24 year-olds gain employment or work experience, will give awards to the companies which have helped with their work so far.

YES has been running for two years and worked with around 40 businesses and some famous names, such as ex-Tottenham Hotspur FC manager Peter Shreeves, in order to give school children an insight into working life.

YES chairman, Norma Green, said: “It is the most rewarding and challenging project I have done.

“We’ve been helping children from King Harold School and Debden Park and we hope to help the rest of the schools in the district in coming years.”

The partnership will launch their new awards in January at an event at the Marriott Hotel in Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey, at which Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing will be speaking.