Campaign launched to promote work experience

Nick Elvin

A new government campaign has launched to help young people make the most of work experience opportunities.

The WE Can campaign will see 84 “Youth Ambassadors” from Youth Employment UK (YEUK) give advice on how others can set up their own work experience placements and make the most of their time in a business setting. The Government will also team up with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) to highlight the benefits of work experience.

WE Can has already been backed by about 30 national companies and organisations with the aim of encouraging businesses to create new work experience opportunities for young people, and it is hoped that number will increase to at least 100 in the coming months.

The campaign was launched ahead of the release of this year’s GCSE and A-Level results, and organisers point out that the employment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds who have left full-time education is at its highest level in nearly 10 years – it has risen above levels seen before the recession to 73.4%. Overall youth unemployment has fallen to its lowest since 2008.

According to UK Commission for Employment and Skills Commission research, two thirds of employers say that work experience is a crucial factor when hiring staff – more than those who prioritise academic qualifications.

The REC’s chief executive Kevin Green said: “Last month, we found the number of people placed into permanent jobs via recruitment agencies increased for the 34th month in a row. But feedback from recruiters is that it’s becoming more difficult to find people with the right skills to fill the job vacancies.

“Business, government and educators must all play a part in helping young people understand the world of work so they can secure the jobs being created. Encouraging more young people to see the value of work experience is just the first step.”

Laura-Jane Rawlings, chief executive of YEUK, an organisation dedicated to tackling youth unemployment in the UK, said: “Many of our young members tell us that having some experience of work whether that is a part-time job or volunteering has made the difference between getting a job or not.

“Helping young people to embrace the opportunities for work experience and encouraging employers to create those opportunities is essential if we are to see a real move to stamping out youth unemployment and bridging the skills gap.”