As evidence emerges of looming labour shortages in construction, retail, agriculture and other sectors a coalition including FTSE companies, academics, professional institutes and youth charities have come together to launch this guide to help employers bring talented marginalised young adults into sustained, full-time work. Clearly, there are costs and challenges associated with this cohort. But increasingly, employers are beginning to recognise the opportunity they present. The drivers for business include: (a) Acquiring a new source of talent and ideas that will enhance, not just replicate, your existing workforce. (b) Making a transformational impact on the life of a young person and their family. (c) Playing your part as a business in creating a fair society and a productive economy. The first step for any company is to understand why young adults with so much latent talent might not be in employment. Chapter one of this Guide provides expert analysis of the situations and context which have shaped their experience. There are also fantastic examples of employer-led programmes working with this cohort of young adults which demonstrate what can be achieved. One of these, called Street Elite, is described in chapter two. Lastly, companies need to adapt their working practice and equip their staff with practical guidance on how to recruit and retain these employees. Chapter three of this Guide is a short list of dos and don’ts. These are based on years of experience working with young adults without much experience of the workplace. But it is striking how much they reflect basic good practice for supporting young women and young men so they can flourish in a business. Our invitation to every employer is to share this report with your board, with your HR director and your Responsible Business team. Challenge the business not just to engage with young people who might be temporarily unemployed but with talented young people from a whole range of backgrounds who might face significant barriers to work. This is where the real need and opportunity lies.
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An employer’s guide to supporting talented young people facing barriers into work
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Spaces for Youth, Economic Growth and Trade, Entrepreneurship, Inclusion, Social Responsibility, Workforce Development, Other, Education, Mentoring/Coaching, Methods & Learning, Economic Empowerment, Youth, Asset Building, Enabling Environment, Physical Development, Youth Engagement and Contribution, Youth Leadership