Report
Britain’s Lost Talent? It is no secret that young people have borne the brunt of this recession. One in five are now struggling to find a job the highest figure on record. It is all too easy to dismiss these young people as “Britain’s lost generation”. Each one of them has skills and talents that could make a real difference to this country. With this report, we have sought to look behind the headlines and discover exactly what could be “lost” if Britain fails to help these young people into work. The findings suggest that the country could miss out on thousands of vital workers nurses, teachers, plumbers – if young people are unable to fulfil their aspirations.
This research reveals that young people are not only struggling to fulfil their ambitions, they are also missing out on essentials that most people take for granted, such as food and heating. Britain cannot afford to stifle these young talents now. It is more important than ever to give all young people the chance to fulfil their potential, as we emerge from the longest recession on record.
The Prince’s Trust’s work with vulnerable young people is more relevant than ever. Those with fewest qualifications need our support the most, as they struggle to compete with unemployed graduates flooding the jobs market. Only by investing in these young people can we ensure this undiscovered generation isn’t lost forever. Ginny Lunn Director of policy and development The Prince’s Trust
Methodology The report focuses on the undiscovered talents of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs), as well as the barriers they face in trying to find work.
A sample of 1,046 16-to-24-yearold NEETs took part in the online poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of The Prince’s Trust and Citi Foundation in January 2010. The data has been weighted by age, region and length of unemployment, to be representative of all UK 16-to-24-yearold NEETs. Respondents were asked about their career ambitions, their experiences of unemployment and how it has affected them in their daily lives. The responses have been used to estimate the number of workers (e.g. nurses, teachers and plumbers) Britain could gain if young people were able to achieve their potential.
The survey gives a percentage of NEETs who favour each potential career option. These percentages have been applied to the total population of unemployed 16-to24-year-olds, giving a figure for how many aspire to each job. This has been calculated using youth unemployment figures from the Office for National Statistics’ Labour Market Survey (January 2009), as national NEETs statistics are not published.
Key workers of the future The study suggests that thousands of future nurses, teachers and plumbers could be lost if Britain fails to help these unemployed young people into work. If NEETs are given the support and training to fulfil their ambitions the UK could gain up to 62,000 teachers, 26,000 police officers and 19,500 doctors or nurses:
What would be the best job for you? Rounded figure to the nearest 500 1,500 Plumbers
6,000 Firefighters
6,500 Chefs
8,500 Construction workers
16,000 Mechanics
19,500 Doctor/Nurses
26,000 Police officers
62,000 Teachers
Fears for the future Thousands of unemployed young people are also concerned about their future prospects, according to the research. More than 380,000 NEETs (or 41 per cent) fear they will never have enough money to provide for themselves or their children. More than a quarter (27 per cent) fear they will get into so much debt that they’ll lose everything. Fifty-seven per cent worry they’ll never be able to afford their own home
“I worry that I’ll never have enough money to provide for myself or my children” Strongly agree/agree: 41% “I worry that I’ll get into so much debt that I’ll lose everything” Strongly agree/agree: 27% “I worry I’ll never be able to afford to buy my own home” Strongly agree/agree: 57%
Making ends meet?
Figure 2.1:
41%
Young people were also asked to respond to a series of questions about their experiences of unemployment. A significant number are cutting back on basic necessities, such as food, heating and clothes for job interviews.
More than 300,000 NEETs (or 31 per cent) have been forced to cut back on food and heating because they can’t find a job, according to the survey.
“I have cut back on food and heating because I can’t find a job “ Strongly agree/agree: 31%
27% 57%
31%
Figure 2.2: Long-term unemployed young people are significantly less optimistic than those who have been unemployed for less than six months.
“I’ll never amount to anything”
Those out of work for more than 12 months are nearly twice as likely to fear that they “will never amount to anything”, and three times as likely to believe that they don’t have any skills and talents.
“I don’t have any skills and talents”
12% (Unemployed up to six months) 22% (Unemployed for more than six months)
10% (Unemployed up to six months) 29% (Unemployed for more than six months)
Figure 3.1:
12% 22% 10% 29%
Figure 3.2: Two-fifths don’t have enough money to buy smart clothes for job interviews.
I don’t have enough money to buy smart clothes to wear for job interviews Strongly agree/agree: 40%
40%
Case study
Adrian’s story
The entrepreneur
I always felt separate from everyone else. I grew up on an estate nicknamed Beirut and my My mentor encouraged me to believe in myself parents let me do what I liked. I got put onto a care The Prince’s Trust helped me set up as a plasterer order at 11 and started doing solvents and drinking. through their Business Programme and I had a When I was 17 I had a daughter, but felt I was great mentor. He’d come out of his way to meet failing as a father. I lashed out at everybody and me at my house and taught me about cash flows, started taking drugs. Before I knew it I was injecting forecasting, marketing, and responsibility. From heroin, I robbed my parents of everything, and where I’ve come from to running by own business – became homeless. In my heart I just wanted to die, it’s just amazing! I had no friends and ended up in prison.
Zoe’s story
The clinical support worker
I got kicked out of school at aged 15. I argued with teachers a lot at school – and I didn’t Now I feel like my life’s got meaning go much. I was expelled at 15, just hung round the I joined The Prince’s Trust Get Into Hospital streets, but they let me do my GCSEs. I did ok. Services course. During my hospital placement, Then I did a year’s course in travel and tourism, I applied for a job. I got help doing my personal which I passed. At 17 my mum kicked me out statement and preparing for the interview. My self as we were arguing all the time. I moved into a esteem improved, and guess what, I got the job! local hostel. Bad idea. There were no wardens or Now I’m a clinical support worker. The Trust told anything, so I did what I wanted. me they were really proud of me.
Ari’s story
The construction worker
No one was willing to take me on. I enjoyed school, but had problems understanding Life’s so much better than it used to be because of my dyslexia. The teachers helped a lot. The Prince’s Trust contacted me about their Get I did my GCSEs and got Grade C in art, that was it. Into Construction course. I wanted to get on it so I felt down about my grades, but proud I’d tried. I much, so when I got a place I jumped around. It looked around for apprenticeships, but no one was was also great to have a mentor to talk to whenever willing to give me a chance to prove myself. I got stuck. After a 12-week placement with the construction contractor, Barhale, I was taken on. I’m now working on the Olympic site. All thanks to The Trust.
An undiscovered generation The Prince’s Trust is launching a new campaign to support thousands of young people who are struggling to find a job. Undiscovered calls for Government, businesses and individuals to help the charity raise £1m a week to support unemployed and disadvantaged young people. More than three in four young people on Prince’s Trust schemes move into work, training or education.
Citi and the Citi Foundation have been supporting The Prince’s Trust since 1986. Their funds alone have helped 271 young people start-up in business with support from The Prince’s Trust. The Prince’s Trust Head Office 18 Park Square East London NW1 4LH Telephone 020 7543 1234 Fax 020 7543 1200 Email info@princes-trust.org.uk
For more information about The Prince’s Trust visit: princes-trust.org.uk/undiscovered
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