Employment and skills expert Working
Links has launched a new project in a bid to combat youth
unemployment in the city.
Working Links, which delivers the government’s
Work Programme to help get unemployed people back to work, will be
linking up with employers and Apprenticeship providers to give
young people the skills they need to succeed in today’s labour
market.
The pilot project, which the organisation hopes to roll out
across the South West and then nationally if successful, started in
January and will initially help up to 300 of the city’s unemployed
18-24-year-olds on their books.
Last year, Working Links published research showing that 86% of
employers look for potential rather than experience when hiring
young candidates and cited soft skills such as ‘a good attitude’
and ‘enthusiasm and motivation’ as key qualities in a potential
work-ready candidate.
The report also showed that 80% of employers believed
Apprenticeships would help reduce youth unemployment and an
overwhelming 100% of employers felt that Apprenticeships give young
people the skills they need to find lasting work.
The young people surveyed also felt that they are not getting
enough advice from schools on vocational qualifications such as
Apprenticeships – only 24% of young people were given advice on
Apprenticeships, while 70% received information about college
courses.
This new project will see groups of up to 15 young people
undertake an initial two-week programme of events. The first week
focuses on confidence, motivation and team building and includes a
day of activities at Dartmoor Zoo. The second week is more
work-focused, looking at skills that specific sectors require
candidates to possess. This will be followed by a 12-week
programme of intensive support where customers work with
consultants, employer services team members and tutors to look at
specific job and opportunities – including Apprenticeships – in
Plymouth and the surrounding area.
Sue Dann, Working Links’ South West employer services team
manager, said: “As one of the government’s prime providers of their
major back to work scheme, we have a duty to seek solutions to
address the unemployment situation, particularly among young
people.
“Many of the young people who come through our doors have little
or no employment history and need help to understand the world of
work and the skills employers require them to have. That’s where
we’re helping – we’ll be working with employers of different shape
and sizes to look at jobs and Apprenticeship opportunities
available in the area.”
To find out more about how Working Links is helping communities,
please contact us
or call 0800 917 9262.