Prime Minister Backs Young People

The Government has called on employers in the private, public and voluntary sectors to work with them to create more opportunities for young people.

Ministers, the Confederation for British Industry and ambassadors including Dame Kelly Holmes have urged businesses to support the Backing Young Britain campaign.

Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper also announced the first 47,000 new jobs - including positions such as sports coaches, education assistants and roles in the social care sector - funded by the £1 billion Future Jobs Fund.

Ms Cooper said:

“We are determined not to lose a generation of talent as has happened in the past because of the global recession. This is why we are announcing 47,000 new jobs for young people today. And - with business and charities - we are launching a national call to action to our fellow employers to join us in Backing Young Britain - to give every young person a job, training place, skills or work experience.”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills also announced it will be launching its Graduate Talent Pool website this week which will offer more than 2,000 internships for graduates.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:

“Our national campaign to help every young person to find a job, training or work skills and experience is not just a response to the recession but an investment in our future as we build a stronger Britain.”

Businesses and other organisations are being urged to support young people in at least one of the following ways:

bid for one of the 100,000 jobs for young people from the Future Jobs Fund
offer a volunteering place or a volunteer mentor for school or university leavers
provide work experience places for young people
consider a young person for a job through a work trial
offer an internship for a graduate
provide an apprenticeship for a 16 to 24-year-old
join a Local Employment Partnership to make sure job vacancies are advertised to local unemployed people