It's tougher than ever for 16-24 year olds to gain a foothold on the employment ladder.

That's why giving young people opportunities has always been close to our hearts here at Glide.

So we've teamed up with the MET Academy launched by Birmingham Metropolitan College in 2009 to help students get out of the classroom and into the workplace.

It is a collaboration between the college, local employers and Career Academies UK.

It provides young people with internships and mentoring opportunities, as well as lectures and workshops intended to support them in their transition from students to professionals.

Rather than exploiting young people's enthusiasm and giving these internships to those who can afford to work for free, each intern receives the minimum wage during their six-week placement.

This year Glide is set to become the largest internship provider for the MET Academy, taking on eight student interns.

The interns have helped us with different aspects of the business, from sales to finance and IT, and we believe the experience they gain with us is an important first step towards their ideal job.

This year we've taken on MET Academy interns Simara Mahmood and Thohin Miah, who have both been helping our finance department.

Our involvement with the MET Academy doesn't stop there. Anthony McCourt, who heads up our sister company ROAR, has been behind the Academy from the beginning.

Our co-founder James Villarreal is also a MET Academy board member.

For more information about the MET Academy please visit www.bmetc.ac.uk or call 0845 155 0101.

If you are interested in completing an internship with Glide then please visit http://www.glide.uk.com/careers or email glide@glide.uk.com for more information.

Glide is pleased to be supporting Teenage Cancer Trust and its team taking part in the Brighton Marathon 2012.

If you fancy taking on an exciting challenge in 2012 then what are you waiting for? Sign up and get involved!! The marathon takes place on Sunday 15 April 2012 and the scenic route takes in the countryside, the city and the cool sea breeze. Why not join up, and do your bit to help young people fight cancer?

Glide will be giving away three pairs of trainers worth £100 each to three randomly selected Glide customers who sign up to the marathon through Teenage Cancer Trust. Terms and conditions apply.

Why run for Teenage Cancer Trust?

Teenagers shouldn't stop being teenagers because they have cancer. You can imagine how damaging it is to take a young person away from their everyday life, their friends, their environment, their family - and put them in a cancer ward with small children or older people.

Teenage Cancer Trust builds and maintains units in NHS hospitals where young people with cancer can get specialist care, and be with other young people their own age so they can support one another. Teenage Cancer Trust also provides a wide range of other services to improve their lives - you can read more about the amazing services they offer on their website.

"The thought of having to face my battle with cancer alone, without my friends around me, really scared me... the Teenage Cancer Trust unit made such a difference to me; without it I would have been lost. Just knowing that there was a room full of people my age who had been through cancer put a great deal of hope back into my life." Fiona, 17

The Teenage Cancer Trust challenges team is on hand to support you throughout your marathon journey with training and fundraising advice, a team running vest and goodies, enthusiastic cheering squads and invitations to events leading up to the day and over the marathon weekend itself - Teenage Cancer Trust will be with you all the way!

Click here for more information on what you can expect if you decide to take on the challenge and run for Teenage Cancer Trust!

Why not encourage your family, friends and colleagues to get involved too? For those who aren't up for running, Teenage Cancer Trust is also recruiting volunteers to cheer the team on, and make the day extra special.

With our support, Teenage Cancer Trust can continue to help thousands of young people affected by cancer.