Member Article

Wetherby’s United Recruitment invited to House of Lords for services to youth employment

Founder of Wetherby-based United Recruitment, Andrew Pickersgill (below), was invited to the House of Lords this week for the REC Youth Employment taskforce.

200 businesses were invited by host, Baroness Prosser of Battersea OBE, who is the Chair of the Taskforce.

She was joined by Matthew Hancock MP and The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC who both gave speeches about increasing the employability skills of 16-24 year olds and Kevin Green, CEO of REC, who was the key speaker - leading on promoting apprenticeships and revolutionising the careers service.

There are nearly 1 million young people not in employment, education or training and the YE Taskforce was set up in 2010 to provides a series of practical recommendations on how to engage the next generation of the labour market in the world of work.

Some of the key areas the Taskforce is able to provide benefit include:

- Providing young people with better labour market intelligence to inform their choices on where the most jobs are being created

- Making it easier for employers to get involved directly

- Give young people an understanding of the world of work by starting careers guidance before they make GCSE choices

- Finally, provide students with the opportunity to participate in work experience programmes whilst still at school

Andrew was there to represent United Recruitment Group who believe that it is their responsibility as recruiters to help encourage youth employment.

He says “As recruiters we know where the jobs are, which sectors are growing in our region and the skills in demand from our clients. It was therefore disheartening to learn that 57% of students received only 1 hour of careers advice before leaving school, resulting in many wrong choices and a continuing skills gap in the labour market.

“We constantly seek innovative ways to promote Youth Employment, whether it be seminars on CV writing & interview guidance or forging relationships with local specialists such as the Leeds Apprenticeship Training Agency.

“It remains a key priority for United Recruitment Group to provide a link between the next generation of workers and potential employers in the Yorkshire region.”

If levels of youth unemployment remain unchanged over the next decade it is estimated that the net cost to the Treasury will be £28 billion (Source: Acevo)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .