Neil Sikka of Barbican Dental Care in London has created the iNSkills initiative which will provide disaffected youth in the Tower Hamlets area with the opportunity to achieve an NVQ Level 3 qualification in dental nursing.

Working in conjunction with the local council, college and other practices in the City of London and Canary Wharf, the initiative will provide training and real job prospects for a vulnerable group.

‘Within the Square Mile there are some of the most successful businesses and the richest people. But just outside is Tower Hamlets, the poorest borough in the UK,’ said Dr Sikka. ‘We wanted to create a scheme where we could offer people the chance of training, work and, more importantly, career development.’

The pilot scheme, launched in February 2012, has sourced eight trainees from the borough of Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlet Council's Skillsmatch – an outreach team with established links in the community – sourced the candidates and will mentor the trainees throughout the duration of the course. Tower Hamlets College will provide the training on a day-release basis and students will gain work experience and valuable on-the-job training.

The initiative includes an ‘earn as you learn’ element, where students will be paid for their working and college time.

Dr Sikka now plans to roll out the programme to other practices within and adjacent to Tower Hamlets. Any interested practice owners can contact Dionne Marsh by emailing: dee.m@barbicandentalcare.com.