Kit out our youth with skills ready for the upturn

Jan 21 2009 By John Ling

John Ling, chief executive officer of BXL, the Birmingham-based social enterprise company that helps people become ready for work, explains why employers need to focus on young people.

While the job figures are disappointing and the West Midland’s unemployment rate is above the national average, we must remember that this is a week of change and a week of hope.

So, while we may be faced with the worst job figures for years, we need to remember that long-term change can happen and that when it does happen, we need to be prepared. This is now the fourth recession I have been through and as one of my old bosses once said, when it comes to a recession you can’t cut costs deep enough or soon enough.

However, what’s important is being ready for the upturn and making sure you have the skills in place.

With unemployment for 18- to 24-year-olds up by 55,000, now is certainly the time to invest in the future by increasing employer engagement with young people and investing in sustainable work-based education and training.

It is my belief that young people are a key solution, not only to the current economic crisis but also to the upswing when it ultimately happens. That’s why we need to invest now to be well equipped for when change happens.

This is certainly something that is mirrored by the government, but as always the devil is in the detail. The government’s New Opportunities White Paper says we need to invest now to win jobs for Britain in the long-term, ensuring that new opportunities are open to anyone no matter what their background.

While I agree with this, what’s also required is a step change in equipping the region’s workforce with the knowledge, skills, attitude and aspiration needed to succeed in the 21st century world of work.

The message is clear. Businesses should not be short-sighted about the benefit of employing and investing in young people, both now and in the future. It’s not about businesses using cheap labour or being socially responsible. It’s about the bottom line.

Having young people within a company will help businesses capitalise on change and opportunity in the most cost-effective way and let’s not forget the many attributes that a young workforce can bring to a company.

Whilst the current job figures are disappointing, what will be more disappointing is the number of people not in education, employment or training. This is clearly something we need to address. Importantly, every person and situation is different. That’s why employers also need to become more involved by learning to recognise potential, no matter what someone’s background or individual challenges are.

Employers also need to set out future skills requirements and engage widely in education, because engaging with today’s pupils and students will ensure that they are well placed to take advantage of the vast opportunities available to them in the future.

Now really is the time for change which is why we all need to stop asking what the workforce of tomorrow will do for us and start asking what we will do for them.