YEUK Newsletter June 2013

June 2013

Youth EMPLOYMENT UK A youth employment magazine for everyone

Digital Bad Hair Days II STOP PRESS Competition International Youth Unemployment Initiatives

Career Advice Youth Friendly Launch: One Month On

Breaking into the Careers in Academia Getting On: UK Buisness Supporting Music Industry Young People w w w. yeu k . org . u k

Post Travelling Truths

CONTENTS Editor’s Note p3 Are You A Youth Friendly Employer p4 The Not So Secret Key to Success p5 Graduate Inter viewp6 - 7 Careers in Academia p9 Career Advice p13 Are school leavers choosing work over Uni? p14 Unemployed Inter view p15 What Next? p16- p17 Digital Bad Hair Days II p18 BREAKING NEWS: Cutting the Red Tape on Work Experience p19 Work-based Approach p20 - 21 The importance of good grammar p22 - 23 Post Travelling Truths p24-25 Q &A Page p26-27

Opting For Logistics and Supply Chain p28

Events Page p29 Review of Hastings “Own Grown” p30-31 Breaking Into the Music Industr y p32-33 International Youth Unemployment Initiatives p34-35 Employer Wage Incentives: What’s the Deal p36 Summer Camp Advert p37 Hull Youth Enterprise Summit p38 Getting On- UK Business Supporting Young People p39 Stop Press Competition p10-41

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EDITOR’S

note

Staggeringly, we are now on our fourth edition of the Emagazine and this one does not fail to dis- I thank all of those who have contribappoint: competitions, unparalleled advice and uted to this edition and hope that our interviews with those who have faced unemploy- readers enjoy what I hope is an engaging ment and come out the other side, there is, once and informative read. again, something for everyone.

Do, please, get in contact should you One month on from the ‘Youth Friendly’ launch, wish to inform others of your (un)emI am overjoyed to see that this worthy initiative is ployment situation. garnering attention and amassing support- long may it continue.

Many Thanks,

As many prepare for their hard-earned summer Holly Motion holidays after their long exam period, I hope that this edition can address (un)employment issues head on, answer questions that others refuse to, and incite debate on the ever-growing UK youth unemployment rate.

Having just finished my undergraduate degree, I wish those awaiting results the best of luck, those wondering what to do next the advice to keep faith and implore those looking to employ graduates, school leavers, and interns, to be ‘Youth Friendly” and help, rather than hinder, the overriding need to encourage and give a chance to 1624 year olds.

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On the 30th of May 2013 Youth Employment UK CIC

At the launch the first Gold Standard Youth Friendly launched is nationwide campaign to make the UK the Award was presented to Dayna Silverman of Silver Skills.

Dayna said “applying for the badge was a non-brainer, we most Youth Friendly Place to work. are a business that supports young people through events, The Youth Friendly Badge is an award given to UK em- we are youth friendly through and through, and getting ployers who support young people within their business recognition for that is brilliant!” and local community. “By recognising those employers that are youth friendly we hope to inspire and sup- Since the launch on the 30th over 50 UK employers have port other UK businesses to become so.” Says Laura-Jane begun the free application process this includes Local Authorities, Youth Organisations, CIC’s and commercial founder of Youth Employment UK CIC. businesses of all sizes.

The Youth Friendly Badge was developed over a period of 8 months and included consultation with Barclays, WELCOMING THE FIRST YOUTH WORKing for YOUth, UK Youth, London Councils, the REC, Brightside and many other employers, young peo- FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS: ple and youth organisations.

• Silver Skills • InspireEducation It is an award designed for all UK businesses from the miDash Coaching cro business to the corporate, charity and profit making. • Workforce Development For those organisations that can employ young people • Signature Strength through apprenticeships and graduate schemes to those • Joan Goodger Food Safety Training that can only offer a talk in a school and maybe some • • National Youth Agency work experience.

Clouddog According to UKCES only 1 in 4 organisations are youth • Eden Training friendly in the UK, with the growing problem of youth • Be Totally You unemployment this is just not enough to support the skill • Capital Group development and experiences we need our young people • • Acorn Training to have to ensure their success.

• Kats Ltd • In Touch Care Ltd Will you register and help us make the UK the most Youth Friendly place to work? www.yeuk.org.uk

“We believe that the Youth Friendly badge will make a difference to the number of opportunities for young people in the UK.” 4

Nearly 1 million young people are currently unemployed in the UK and with degrees now costing £9,000/year, you NEED to be confident and certain what you’re doing next. Lasting success doesn’t occur by accident - it is purposeful. Many of the greatest success stories throughout history are examples of this fundamental fact.

Every achievement, great or small, is always 1.Abraham Lincoln was born in an environ- preceded by a goal. ment of extreme poverty and throughout his life only received three months of formal ed- In 1953, a survey was conducted with a ucation. He failed in business, had a nervous graduate class at Yale University. The results breakdown, was defeated twice for nomina- showed that only 4% of the class had set tions for Congress and was defeated for nom- clearly written goals for their future. 20 years ination for Vice President. Despite these set- later, in 1973, they were interviewed once backs, he went on to become one of the greatest again. The results showed that the 4% who had set goals were worth more financially presidents of America. than the other 96% put together.

2.Thomas Edison died with 1903 patents to his name and is known as one of the most success- As a professional coach, I am in the 1% of ful inventors in history. In his quest to invent an coaches in this country aged 18-24 years old. electric light using an incandescent filament, I work full-time with young people, coachhe allegedly said he had failed 1000 times. ing them around big decisions in their career, academic and business life.

3.Kanhaiya Kumari, a young man from India was in the news recently for getting together the money to release his mother from jail after 19 years of waiting. Spending most of his life in juvenile prisons, he never forgot her and as soon as he turned 18 began work in a garment factory and saved up to release his mother.

These examples show success - however you define it - is very purposeful. That is to say nothing happens without a cause, these successes were the result of a conscious choice or cause, which brought about the desired effect.

By Keshav Bhatt, YEUK Ambassador www.revolutionhive.com

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An Interview with a Graduate What was your experience like searching for employment pre, and post, university?

I have always had a part time job since I was in secondary school, but after I finished my A-levels there was no support or guidance at going straight into a full time job- university was really the only path highlighted to us. Post university, I went back to live with my parents in York and got some part time type work whilst looking for my ‘dream job’. I narrowed my search to jobs that requested graduates, as I didn’t want my time at university and debt I was in to be all for nothing.

Applying for jobs is a full time job in itself and only having family in York meant that I wasn’t in the best place for job opportunities. I sent off applications for quite a few jobs. Some I would hear back from, others were completely silent with replies. I quickly learned that sometimes the roles just weren’t suitable, either too short a contract or not paying enough for me to be able to move to another city. Everything also always seemed to be about experience, which having been in education, I didn’t have. I ended up taking a very short 3- week volunteering role for an environmental type charity in London. I would not have been able to afford to stay longer with the money loss I was facing.

However, through making contacts with other people with environmental degrees I then, 6 months later, got work through hearing about a role for a sustainability assistant with a construction contractor working on the Olympics project. It was a 2-month contract, which was extended to 4 and then I got recommended for a position within the head office team and so I am here permanently!

Did you apply for any graduate schemes?

I maybe took a few online tests (numerical, verbal reasoning), but the whole process of spending days filling in application forms and then failing a 10 minute test, I thought, was just not worth it. I didn’t want to be considered a number that is only judged by a timed assessment. On more than one occasion, I was invited to an assessment centre, but I know how many stages are involved and I just don’t like that type of pressure and don’t think I would be able to cope with rejection after having attended several centres and fail at the last hurdle. Hats off to those that apply to these scary graduate schemes!

How many schemes did you apply to?

About 5 maybe, but that is because I lost the will after the traumas faced when trying to apply for them. I had friends who applied to 100s.

Of those you applied to, how many did you a) hear back from b) were successful at applying to?

I would say I applied to over 50 jobs and roughly, heard back from about 50%. When applying for graduate schemes, they do provide feedback, but it is often a generic email sent to all those unsuccessful.

How ‘youth friendly’ was your experience when searching/applying for employment post university?

There was basically too many people applying for the same job, and there was nothing you could really do without experience to set yourself apart from all the rest. By not even making interviews, it doesn’t give

you chance to shine in person to the employer. All they seem to take into account is what is written on paper and that makes things difficult for a recent graduate. I had a strong CV showing I had a good skill set, but I was essentially lacking the experience advertised by the job role. Sadly, I struggled to find employers who were willing to offer (paid) training. I just didn’t have the funds for an unpaid internship.

Are you currently employed?

Yes How long were you out of employment for before securing this employment?

I did various jobs after leaving university, including part time roles (waitressing, theatre box office) and then agency work full time (admin) before I got this job opportunity. Between university and my current job, I was at home with my parents for a total of 10 months, continuously getting bogged down in job applications.

I never thought it would be so hard to start my career and I continuously felt lost in what I wanted to do. I kept questioning what I should be doing and felt like I was a disappointment to my parents for not doing them ‘proud’. It was hard work, but it definitely pays to put yourself out there and meet as many people as possible.

My 2 month placement in London turned out to be the best thing I could have done. Within a week of having been offered the job I came down to London with two suitcases on the train and moved into a houseshare that I found on gumtree. Now, a year later, I can happily say I am a permanent London resident. Although money is still tight, I am gaining so much valuable experience and the challenges have been amazing. It is just what I had

wished for.

What advice would you give to graduates/ young people as they seek employment and struggle to hear back from applications?

I would advise them to just keep trying. It will all be worthwhile when you get that break. Everyone I know has gone through the same. It is just about patience. I definitely think networking is good, so if you can find events where people in the field you want to work in are, that is a good start. Things like doing google searches to find out individuals from within companies that you can contact to try and get work experience shadowing is also a very good idea. I was offered work like this on a few occasions in my searches. The most important thing is not to be too selective. You never know without doing a job if it is for you, so don’t be afraid to give other types of work/experiences a go.

Name: Becki Raper Age: 24 Degree studied at university: Geography (BA Hons)

Don’t miss out on the summer of a lifetime.

Sign up now at ncsyes.co.uk 8

Aidan Darrall, English Literature graduate and YEUK ambassador

It surprised us to read, that after completing a degree so few graduates consider a career in academia.

We thought that being a “perpetual” student would appeal to much more people. What’s more we also learnt that only 12% of third year female PhD students consider a career in academia.

According to www.prospcets.ac.uk the work of an academic typically combines research, teaching, administrative and leadership responsibilities. Most academic posts include duties such as making applications for funding, attending conferences, building collaborations with other institutions and taking part in knowledge transfer activities with business and industry.

Searching and applying for funding for research projects is also high up the list. Depending on the role and the institute promotional opportunities available, salaries will range from anything between £27,000 to £55,000 per year.

So, is the role of a researcher as varied and exciting as that of Lewicki in Perception; is the job satisfaction rating through the roof?

According to the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET and the Royal Society of Chemistry, who commissioned a report on women in academia, the findings showed that academia is not at the top of most graduates’ career lists.

The research raises concerns that women find it difficult to work in this area, women see academic careers as all-consuming, solitary and as unnecessarily competitive. Adding to that, women are also more likely to be told that they will encounter problems simply because they are women!

President at a Boston College, Helen Drinan told The Huffington Post, “I believe to this day that standing up against this behaviour… [and] to continue working very hard, helped me to ascend into leadership positions. […] In the end, clear goals education, experience and confidence will move the ranks of talented and motivated women to great heights.”

It is a fact that there are fewer women than men in the world of academia, with the recent report stating that only 12% of PhD female students want a career in academia, compared to 21% of men. Looking ahead this shows how the academic world is being put at risk, as its survival is limited to the quality and diversity of the recruitment pool.

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You’re about to enter the next stage of your life, deciding, if you’ve not already done so, what you want your career to look like. The next step is working out how to achieve that. What courses you need to do etc. There is something even more important that you need to take on board.

Will I be given the opportunity to do what I want?

Hard isn’t it? It depends which job you’re going for. Also, that list has probably changed in the 5 years, since the survey was done. New qualities come in all the time, social media savvy, having a respectable online footprint (not having daft/illegal stuff on your FB/Twitter etc).

The short answer is no, not unless you can provide the employer with evidence that you’ll be good for their company. So understanding what employers want is vital,

The short answer is doing your own research. Talk to companies that work in the line of business you’re interested in. That probably seems daunting now, but the more you find out about a company before you apply to them the better you will understand what they want. Even just researching them on the internet will give you a better idea and give you the edge over those who don’t bother.

Quick experiment –

You’re looking for an apprentice office worker, accountant or plumber, which of these qualities would you rate most important?

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Smart appearance

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Basic number and literacy skills

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Good exam results

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Somebody who lives locally

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Vocational qualifications

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Enthusiasm/ Willingness to learn

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Reliability/honesty 91%

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Reliability and honesty

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Punctuality 91%

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Somebody who plays sport

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Willingness to learn 88%

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Somebody who works well with others

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Punctuality (being on time)

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Team player 85%

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Work experience related to the job

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Enthusiasm 82%

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Smart appearance 78%

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Basic literacy/numeracy 54%

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Good Exam Results 30%

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Vocational Qualifications 23%

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Work Experience related to the job 21

Want to know what the answers to the survey were? % of all employers who wanted that quality were:-

By JANET COLLEDGE 13

What does University mean to school leavers today? Does the economy need more or fewer graduates? Where can having a degree take you in terms of employment? Should – or are – school leavers forgoing University and heading straight into the workplace? These are just a few of the worries and concerns circling the UK today, especially following tuition fee increases (£9,000 in many institutions).

Amid so many do’s and don’t’s, will and won’t’s expressed by numerous critics on the matter, how exactly, do school leavers decide – work or Uni? Not only has University been criticised for the amount of debt many unavoidably face, there is also yet another issue at the centre of our concern: the large number of young people with a university education that will not be able to find a job that matches their expectations. Some critics argue the UK’s economy has an oversupply of graduates, that is, many young graduates are finding themselves in jobs where a degree is not necessary.

Figures do, however, show that 74% of people with degrees are in graduate jobs this year, compared with 69% in 2006. The BBC has also recently established that more than a quarter of jobs are now available only to graduates.

Vince Pearce from the National Careers Service suggests that "There has been a definite shift over the past four or five years, with young people looking into other options rather than university." One of these options is employment. Barclays, Natwest and Tesco are 14

just a few large companies that offer training programmes specifically for school leavers – many of which lead to professional qualifications at degree level and sometimes beyond.

Others are offering shorter programmes that give young people practical skills for the workplace.

Although I speak from quite a bias view having recently finished an English degree, I do believe that not everybody should go to University, it simply doesn’t make sense. I feel that it boils down to the type of person that you are. For myself, I love to study. Having a group of close friends that had dropped out of college and, therefore, entered fulltime employment, they would agree when I say that one needs to enjoy studying, as they have, on numerous occasions, responded to my workload with “I could never do that”.

Whilst I do feel extremely proud to have completed an English course at University, if I had my time again, I would almost definitely think twice about enrolling into Uni. Considering the threefold increase in tuition fees, I would need greater confidence in the UK’s economy including more, better, skilled jobs, and a higher percentage of graduates in graduate jobs.

Emily Handley, English Literature graduate and YEUK ambassador

Ben Daly (21) Looking for work in the film/TV industry Can you tell us a little about your current employment situation?

Last year I graduated from Buckinghamshire New University where I studied Film and TV Production. I am now looking for work full-time or part-time within the film industry or general manual work.

Which industries are you focusing on in your job search? What sort of roles are you applying for?

I am looking for entry level jobs in the Film and TV industry, for example: runner jobs, production assistants etc. but as I am keen to get into script writing, I am also applying for any type of script writing job.

Do you have previous experience in the film industry? Did your university provide career opportunities?

One of my lecturers told me about a runner job working on a low budget film so I was able to get some experience working on that. Other than that, the University brought in various people from the industry and as part of coursework I was asked to go out and interview industry professionals so that gave me more contacts for when I left.

Do you believe that your qualifications have improved your chances in the job process?

For me the qualifications I have received over the years have just been a means of getting to the next stage of education, GCSE to A level, A level to University. Now that I have graduated, I find that none of the jobs I am applying for enquire as to the grade I received at University, but I think that is just the type of work I am going into. The actual experience and skills I got at University were more helpful.

Have you been successful in the application process?

The only work I’ve had since graduating has been through contacting people via email, rather than getting anything through filling out an application form or handing in my CV. However, recently I have updated my CV and had more interest from companies I’ve applied to.

Many recruitment companies appear to neglect creative industries. Have you found it more difficult to find vacancies in these areas?

Not personally. I have managed to find job opportunities elsewhere which don’t run through recruitment agencies. When it comes to jobs within the Film and TV industry, a lot of people are happy just to receive an email from you and then take it from there rather than go through a complicated application process.

Are you aware of any schemes that promote young creative talent?

Yes there are many out there, it is just a case of finding one that fits into your area of interest. Even though finding work as a young person is difficult, a lot of companies (especially in the creative industries) are looking for new talent to come through and they provide ways to get your work out there.

For example for music there are things like BBC Kent Introduces, and for film there are competitions like Virgin media shorts etc.

What advice would you give other people who are experiencing difficulties finding work?

Update your CV. If you are handing out CVs and getting no response then look up how to improve it and make it relevant to the job you’re applying for. Also go out to places to find work rather than just looking online and once you have applied for a job, contact them a week or so later to follow it up.

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It can be a real challenge deciding what the next step should be on your journey to career satisfaction designed to help guide you to the choice that is best for you. Whether you’re leaving school at 16, finishi your path; help is just a few clicks away.

Connexions http://www.connexionslive.com/YoungPeople/JobsAndCareers/Default.aspx A comprehensive service providing information about jobs, apprenticeships, volunteering and further education for 13-19 year olds. There are advice pages about money, transport and wellbeing and sections for choices at 16 and 18 which explain the different options available at each stage of education and employment. Young people are able to talk to a professional adviser and Connexions have local centres all over Britain.

Skill http://www.skill.org.uk/ Skill is specifically set up to provide employment, training, volunteering and educational advice and information for people with disabilities. There is a dedicated section for young people outlining the choices in education, training and work and how to achieve your

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Apprenticeships h t t p : / / w w w. a p p r e n t i c e s h i p s . o r g . u k / Be-An-Apprentice.aspx This website tells you everything you need to know about apprenticeships: what training is involved, the benefits of a scheme, funding and support. You can even search for vacancies by job sector or location.

Rockstar Youth http://www.rockstaryouth.co.uk/ Want to be your own boss? Rockstar Youth is an organisation set up for young entrepreneurs(aged 18-30) who want to set up their own business, providing advice and start up loans.

Inspiring Interns http://www.inspiringinterns.com A variety of graduate internships, both paid and unpaid. Inspiring Interns claim that 65% of placements lead to a full time job so this is an ideal option if you want to gain more experience and skills before you secure full time employment. The website also includes advice on CVs, cover letters and interviews.

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n, but luckily there are a wealth of career services ing your A Levels or a graduate struggling to find

Prospects http://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers.htm Got a degree but not sure what to do with it?Prospects gives careers advice for graduates including: career options according to your degree subject, advice on postgraduate study, working abroad, graduate schemes, work experience and internships.

Career Pilot http://www.careerpilot.org.uk/ No idea where to begin? Career Pilot outlines your options at 14,16 and 18 including information about different job sectors and usefully features a ‘route planner’ which calculates your individual choices depending on your current situation.

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BIGDOG http://www.bigdog.co.uk/ Career advice and over 30,000 job and apprenticeship vacancies for 14-24 year olds who want information on alternatives to university. With blogs, articles, social media and BD:TV, it makes tough decision making a little more entertaining.

join YEUK For more info and guidance, reers info, and stay in touch with their ca e on their read the e-mag and keep an ey social pages.

Fran Daly, YEUK Ambassador, English Language Undergraduate 17

H ave

you ever pressed ‘Enter’ on your keyboard or mobile and immediately regretted it? Most of us have let our fingers do the talking prematurely at some point in our lives. It can lead to all kinds of trouble whether you are looking for a job or you are already employed.

Take the recruitment consultant who sent an email to his colleagues for a laugh, expressing his disdain for some of his clients and highlighting the behaviours that really irritated him. Unfortunately, he sent it to everyone in his address book by mistake! Imagine the storm of protest when the media got hold of the story.

Then there was the employee who decided to update his LinkedIn profile by ticking the box indicating he was looking for “career opportunities”. Only problem was that his current employer was none too pleased and he was sacked!

Twitter is another social media disaster waiting to happen for the careless. Remember the man who was flying to the US on holiday from Doncaster Airport, but there was a runway closure? He tweeted lightheartedly that he was going to blow the airport up unless the airport got its act together. He got arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Squad!

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F inally, my friend Jessica met up with an old

friend, but it had not been a success. She texted her daughter to say what a pain her friend had been all weekend and accidentally sent it to her friend instead of her daughter. It took a while to repair that friendship!

So, the lessons from these digital disasters are to pause before pressing enter, to go away for a period before returning to read what you intend to send (or asking someone you trust to have a look first), to check you have the right destination for your message and only then fire your words of wisdom into cyberspace.

What digital bad hair day have you had that you can laugh about now?

David Shindler

On the 21st of June 2013, in an open letter to employers, Mark Hoban, Vince Cable, Matthew Hancock, Oliver Letwin and Michael Fallon voiced their commitment to putting an end to this kind of health and safety bureaucracy - building on progress already made by the Red Tape Challenge.

As a result of cross-government action: !! The insurance industry has committed to treat work experience students as employees for the purposes of insurance against bodily injury, and confirmed that simply giving work experience opportunities to students will not in itself impact on insurance premiums. !! HSE has issued guidance providing clar ity on employers’ obligations with regard to risk assessments - making it clear that if workplace risk has already been assessed with young people in mind, a business does not need to repeat this for each new student. !! Employers with fewer than 5 employees do not a need a written risk assessment The Health and Safety Executive has also issued revised guidance to employers and the Department for Education have worked with Ofsted to publish guidance on how Ofsted will inspect Health and Safety. And to give employers peace of mind, the Association of British Insurers will also be reassuring them that they don’t have to take out special insurance policies to cover students on work experience.

Minister for Employment Mark Hoban said:

“ We know that work experience gives young

people vital insights into the world of work, encourages them to aspire to great things, and helps them to prepare for their future.

Too often in the past, the crazy cornucopia of confusing rules discouraged employers from taking young people on. That’s why we have been working across Government to make sure the rules are clear and easy to understand. ”

“ We know that to tackle youth unemployment we need to create more opportunities for young people so Youth Employment UK CIC fully supports these essential and practical changes. We hope more employers will be encouraged to provide work experience and become Youth Friendly. ” Laura-Jane Rawlings, Youth Employment UK CIC

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Why consider an apprenticeship?

Just before I finished my A-levels, I applied for an apprenticeship and revoked my UCAS application.

It was a difficult, life-changing decision that meant I could lay the foundations for a successful career with expertise experience and start earning right away. Besides, I wasn’t ready for another three years of solid education for a job market heavily reliant on experience. This meant that enrolling on a full-time university course did not appeal to me. Following my experience as a police cadet, head student, and volunteering at various places, I concluded that I loved and enjoyed the pressure from work, and that work-based learning was the best route for me to take.

Applying for an apprenticeship: Looking around for apprenticeships was slow at first; it was a new world to me that my teachers had never mentioned. I had to research the advantages and disadvantages of different levels and what progression routes were available within each industry depending on what level qualifications, training and experience you completed. Statistics from the City & Guilds website states that 75% of students are informed about University decisions, whilst only 46% were made aware of apprenticeship options.

A misconception that I took from school is that if you hold a degree, your first job would be a city job or management-related job with a high salary. I am not saying that it is impossible, but everyone has a place to start, even graduates. My starting point was retail, because I wanted to use my experience with dealing with customers so that I would be able to use it to get into the police force. That was my long-term goal, at the time. In addition, there were a lot of news reports about the police suffering in their recruitment drive, due to government cuts, and couple that with the London Mayor’s push for apprenticeship support, retail sounded like a good backup career plan.

How I completed it 20

Within a week of applying on the national apprenticeship website, I received an email telling me I had a small group interview at the Homebase store where the apprenticeship was based. About an hour after the interview, I got a phone call telling me that I had been successful, to which I replied, that I would start as soon as I had finished my A2 exams.

On my first day, I was given an extensive induction tour.

Gradually, I was taught the company’s policies, core values, and approach to customers.

A couple of weeks in, I met my assessor who talked me through the course. He would visit the store fortnightly, explaining what the other apprentices and I would be doing and how we would be assessed to pass the course and gain the certificate. He also arranged meetings with the store manager to discuss the best approach to training the apprentices and assigned one team leader and one service manager to be responsible for the apprentices training and actions in the store. I was on the minimum apprenticeship wage, and assessments varied from BTEC-style assessments, to witness statements and practical observations.

What I planned to do after After 6 months, I am pleased to say that I passed the apprenticeship and secured a part-time contract. I was fully trained with the operational/warehouse department, garden department, and shop floor department. My contract was ‘upgraded’ from an apprentice, to shop floor staff and I began earning the same wage as the rest of my colleagues.

I had intended to pursue a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Retail, but Homebase had suspended the apprenticeship program. Additionally, I was still working with a part-time contract, but had an average overtime of 48 hours a week. This meant that whenever I took a few days off, or booked a holiday, I would not be paid for it, and I could not live with those financial uncertainties.

I started to actively look for jobs and other apprenticeships that would endorse an advanced or higher level apprenticeship in the retail or sales sector. What I noticed was that there were, undoubtedly, a lot more opportunities for school leavers, especially in the retail, energy, and engi-

neering industry.

It wasn’t long until I found, and started, a new full-time job- always keeping one eye open for other training opportunities for progression into a retail management career, because that was my new long-term goal.

What I actually did and my next steps: When I secured my new (and current) job at The Entertainer: Toystore, I made the decision to apply for a part-time Foundation degree in Management and Accounting. I chose part-time study, because I wanted to keep a significant presence in the job industry by working full-time. I chose to study a foundation degree, instead of a Bachelors, because a Foundation degree is the first two years of a ‘normal’ degree assessed through a mixture of exams and practical-based assessments related to your workplace rather than the traditional undergraduate assessments. This appealed to me greatly, with my work-based route towards a retail career.

Fast-forward to today and I’ve had an unconditional offer from Birbeck, University of London to study Management and Accounting part-time. But, I’m always looking out for suitable Advanced Level 3 and Higher Level 4 apprenticeship opportunities. I’ve deferred my entry to January 2014, as I succeeded in getting into the Metropolitan Police and chose to start the Special Constabulary training in January 2013.

Currently, I keep myself up to date with work-based opportunities and study a Business & Admin distance course, whilst training for the police and working fulltime in retail, at The Entertainer. I have even recently talked my girlfriend into taking an Intermediate apprenticeship at fashion retailer: Next!

My goal in the next few years is to become a regular police officer, or to work in the sales or luxury retail industry, but, that being said, I’m very open to whichever type of career my skills and interests will lead me to. I would like to work with young people, to guide and inform them about decisions with work-related training, and ensure that they are aware of the alternatives to get

to where they want in life.

Conclusion Completing the apprenticeship has been extremely beneficial in allowing me to secure a foot in the job market. I would absolutely encourage students to research what they want to do in the future, to see whether a degree or an apprenticeship is more beneficial. I was completely aware of the risks of taking an apprenticeship. Not all apprenticeships guarantee a job, but if you put in the effort, those chances of securing a job are much more likely.

My retail apprenticeship trained me on the specific work-related skills which employers look for. The apprenticeship played a key role in developing my knowledge, aspirations, and has laid out the foundation for a retail career.

It has also definitely played a part in securing a volunteering position as an event services team leader in the 2012 Olympics and the Metropolitan Special Constabulary.

Whether you’ve finished compulsory education, or are working 9-5 Monday to Friday, it never hurts to keep an eye open to opportunities where you can still learn and develop your skills at the same time.

Muchael Tran YEUK Ambassador 21

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by DONNA SVEI on JUNE 5, 2013 http://www.avidcareerist.com/2013/06/05/10-terrific-grammar-tips-infographic-resume/

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Brief Education/ employment background: Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School for GCSE’s, West Kent College for a National Diploma.

Heavily Retail and Customer Service based. Last few years have been in Insurance, although also work at a Nightclub part time and have done for the last 6 years.

Where did you go travelling?

Australia What made you decide to go travelling?

Lot of reasons...

I’d always wanted to go and knew a few people who had and loved it. I also have family out there, so knew it would be nice to see them.

At the time I wasn’t enjoying my job either, so that helped me make the final decision.

Also, as with every back packer I met, I wasn’t over my break up with my ex.

How long did you go travelling for?

8 and a half months in the end.

Did you find work out there?

I did, there are amazing agencies out there specifically for backpackers. I used one called ‘The Job Shop’ in Perth and they were brilliant, within days of registering with them I had travelled the 6 hour journey by coach to my new job!

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Name: Takara Moore Age: 24

What work was this?

I lived and worked at a pub in rural Australia. I started in the kitchen and then when the barmaid left, took her position as I obviously have a lot of experience.

How well paid was it relative to your living expenses?

I found it very well paid. We had meals and accommodation included and then $500 a week on top.

Did you find that jobs were easier to come by in Australia?

I did, but more so in rural locations, as in the city, a lot of places won’t take you on with a working holiday visa unless you have a trade.

How have you found the search for employment since your return?

Hard! I think it also takes a while to settle into your old life... I am struggling with this a lot...

I do have some shifts at the Club luckily though.

Would you consider permanently moving abroad in light of your experience?

I wouldn’t, no. But only because I’m such a family girl! If I didn’t have such a close family then I’d still be out there now!

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Q&A

Our Employability expert is David Shindler from Dash Coaching www.employabilitycoaching.co.uk What are the key attributes/skills employers look for in job applications?

Professionalism: Do you understand the level of professionalism we expect in our company… from being punctual and the way you present yourself to showing serious intent and giving 100%? Can you demonstrate that you have the character and work ethic we expect? Who are you as a person? Does your unique offer demonstrate that you can do this job and that you are the right one for us? Have you done your research on us and know what behaviours are acceptable here from meetings to phone calls and emails?

Skills and attitudes: Are you enthusiastic with a ‘can-do’, flexible attitude? Are you willing to take responsibility and be held to account for your actions? Do you bounce back from setbacks and take tough love on the chin? Do you take the initiative and contribute ideas? Can you articulate your views coherently both verbally and in writing? Do you listen well and ask good questions? Are you savvy with technology from MS Office Suite to mobile apps, search engines and the Internet? Are you skilled with numbers? Are you a problem-solver? Can you build rapport and trust when in a team and collaborate with others outside the team? Can you work with people who are very different from you? Are you committed to your own development? Are you coachable?

Knowledge: Do you get our business model and the world we inhabit? Can you put yourself in our customers’ shoes?

How will what you know and have experienced to date help you to be successful in this role? Are you passionate about the mission of our organisation…and can you help us move that mission forward?

What activities best develop/demonstrate Employability Skills Any kind of work experience (paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time) including holiday and term time jobs, work placements, internships, job shadowing and volunteering here and abroad; undertaking schemes like The Prince’s Trust and Raleigh; any kind of project work in education or with employers; positions of responsibility held at school, college, university or in the community; personal achievements and successes outside of education and the workplace; enterprise activities, from selling t-shirts on a stall and setting up an online business to fundraising for a cause; caring responsibilities. Any activity where you have had a positive impact by leading, managing, contributing, Our delivering, implementing, resolving, improving or youth editor creating something. and final year undergraduate student is Holly Motion.

What tips would you give to someone thinking about University or other pathways to work?

I would strongly advise researching your options; do not feel pressured by decisions being made by those around you and believe that UCAS is the one, and only, course for you. There are so many options available to young people, while University is incredibly rewarding and, for many, a necessity, University is not for everyone. Contrary to popular belief, University is not just three years of nights out and no work. Spend a sizeable amount of time considering the course you wish to study and the Institution that suits your needs best. I would highly recommend taking some time to look at the amount of contact hours received and whether you are willing to pay £9,000 a year on this proviso.

What should I get involved with at University to help my career prospects?

You will be bombarded with information on societies to join, abroad schemes offered, and volunteer work as soon as you arrive at University. Take full advantage of these opportunities. They will, undoubtedly, benefit you in the long run. You may think graduate schemes and job interviews are a long way off, (it comes around a great deal quicker than you may think, trust me) and these seemingly inconsequential things soon become invaluable. Volunteer and join anything and everything, it all looks brilliant on your CV and can be the difference between a rejection and acceptance in a couple of years time.

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If you have any Careers, Employability or Enterprise questions you would like to put to our panel please email: emag@ yeuk.org.uk

Our Careers Expert is Simon Bason from Bright Track www.brighttrack.co.uk Where is the best place for young people to get career advice?

That’s a big question! I guess it might be a little easier if we break it down.

Firstly if you are looking for advice then there are huge amounts of resource available to you on line. Good places to start are reputable websites such as the National Career Service https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/ Pages/default.aspx especially for young people I would also recommend www.notgoingtouni.co.uk which has a lot of resources useful in planning different pathways you might consider when choosing a career. If you are a graduate then www.milkround.com has a number of jobs listed; reading the job descriptions might help you build up a picture of what it would be like to work in a particular industry (you can always contact these companies and ask for advice). It’s always good to talk to people who are doing the job you are interested in however if you don’t know anyone www.icould.com has lots of video clips where people talk about their work. Always use a number of resources so that you can check you are being given a consistent message.

Once you have the information it is often a good idea to talk to someone in a neutral position about which career might suit you. I would suggest a career guidance practioner as a good person however perhaps a student services counsellor if you are at school or college ask about where you can get some independent advice.

Are recruitment agencies useful or is it better to apply to companies directly?

They can be very useful depending on your situation. If you are looking to find some short term or summer work an agency is a good place to go. If you go to see them, are well presented (look smart like you are ready to work) have understanding of what your skills are (and can give examples) they will be happy to sell you to some of the employers that they have on their books.

If it is a long term job you are after they can also be helpful although I would add a word of caution. You need to find the job that is right for you and they have an interest in selling you to their client, your needs may not be the first ones being met.

Our Enterprise Expert is Ketan Makwana from enterpriselab.co.uk & Rockstar Youth What are key entrepreneurial attributes?

Entrepreneurial attributes are built around the person’s ability to be enterprising in achieving the desired result; most entrepreneurs look at the challenge ahead from more than one angle and identify pathways to creating innovative solutions that not only resolve but create value.

For me, to be an entrepreneur is not just about risk taking and passion but the ability to bring fresh solution to old problems, be a connector/collaborator and generate value.

What should I do to see if my business idea has potential?

Ideas are great… but just a figment of one’s imagination if you do nothing with it… the first step is to define how realistic the idea is; for this, usually I advise people to process the rules of ISBA (Issues, Solutions, Barriers and Actions) What is the issue that your business is resolving? * What does the solution look like & how does it work? * What challenges do you envisage bringing the solution to reality? * What 3 steps can you take as actions to get you one step closer to your goals?

With business ideas there are 3 fundamentals for success…

• What is the idea and what problem does it solve?

• What evidence or proof do you have that people need this idea?

• Why would someone pay for your idea and how much?

Most people fall at the first hurdle after realising what their idea really is and why they are setting about engaging it… this is followed on by the simple fact that people have not engaged their market to really appreciate if they want this idea/ solution and are prepared to pay for it.

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Organisations are increasingly focusing on their supply chains, making it imperative that they attract the best young talent to manage them; people who are capable of keeping abreast of new technology and systems and who possess the kind of soft skills required for the role -such as good customer service, communication, leadership, and people management skills.

Today’s logistics and supply chain sector is sophisticated, intellectual and technology-led.

Managers are supporting omni-channel retail, globalisation, sustainability, collaboration and mitigating supply chain risk to ensure the right product is in the right place at the right time. It is a career with great prospects, where top supply chain directors can earn a six-figure salary.

This dynamic sector makes so much possible: your local supermarket stocking all the groceries that you want, in ever expanding varieties and ranges; your flight taking off on time with enough to eat and drink on board; greater accessibility to technology that is changing our lives, such as smart phones and tablet computers; your online shopping delivered to your front door – and picked up if you don’t want it; your favourite band having all their equipment to play on a festival’s main stage; and essential supplies needed to provide humanitarian relief to get anywhere in the world where they are needed as quickly as possible. These are just some of the challenges facing supply chain and logistics managers who must go about delivering everyday life, every day.

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A big concern that many young career seekers have today when considering a degree is the high cost of study. Fees of up to £9000 a year may deter many. Charging fees that are significantly lower will clearly make it a less fearful proposition, particularly if that degree guarantees a job for graduates. This is the idea behind the new 4-year Novus Logistics and Supply Chain BSc degree course at Huddersfield University In addition to an initial joining fee of £5000, sponsoring companies, which include leading firms such as Sainsbury’s DHL and Travis Perkins, provide mentors, paid placements in the holiday periods and third year, course content and case studies and, finally, at least 1 graduate job per year. A proportion of the graduate salary will be used to repay student loans. Students will learn about supply chain management, finance, statistics, organisational structure and methods, sociology, psychology, transport network design, warehouse design, inventory management, supply chain IT and HR management.

For further information, visit www.novus.uk.com

Upcoming Events Running an event that aims to support youth unemployment? Let us know and we will share it here.

When

Every Monday 5th June

What

No Limits run a Work Club 2pm5pm National Vocational Qualifications Day

Who 16-25s

http://about.me/Nolimitshelp http://www.vqday.org. uk/

24th June

Empower Into Employment

19+

24th June

Apprenticeship Recruitment Day

16+

www.womenswisdom. co.uk/ Nicoya.palastanga@ west-lindsey.gov.uk, www.womenswisdom. co.uk/ http://www.opening-doors.org/

1st, 8th, Empower into Self Employmenton 15th of July 3rd of July Opening Doors Manchester – Careers Fair 11th & 12th Digital Summer Camp (11th is for July general public, 12th is for schools) 20th July Enterprise Rocks! Music & Markets

All 16-24 16-24 16-24

How

http://techmixmag. com/ http://enterpriserocks. eventbrite.co.uk/

To have your event listed for free in the emagazine it needs to be free for 16 – 24 year olds to attend and aimed at helping them to gain new skills for work or to find work opportunities themselves. If you want to advertise your Open Days, have a larger event listing or advertise your organisation in general please see our advertising rate care.

Please send your event details (including date, a brief description, location, target audience and how you may be contacted for further information) to emag@yeuk.org.uk Please note we accept no responsibility for the reliability or quality of the events listed and cannot publish any notices of cancellations of change of details.

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An organic initiative, supported by the Observer, Own Grown asks businesses to help those under 18 and school leavers claiming Job Seekers Allowance in a variety of flourishing and productive ways.

Firms have been asked to rise to the ’Own Grown’ challenge to help around 1,000 16-24 year olds in Hastings and Rother who are currently on Job Seekers Allowance improve their employability and secure employment or practical support for entering work.

The Own Grown challenge involves employers pledging to invest in young people, offering one or more of the following ways of helping them: How you can get involved/ what you can pledge:

• Help out with student projects or annual events • Offer your expertise to participate in Summer School, or similar schemes run by the institution.

• Perhaps you could invite a group to visit your workplace and offer them a glimpse of what it is you do.

This could even extend to agreeing to allow students to participate in work experience with your company/ organisation. In agreeing to allow a child to shadow you or a staff member, the child will gain an insight into the working world and attain much-needed, deeply sought-after, and hard to acquire experience. Hastings Council has produced a Toolkit to help.

• Mentoring a school student through once-a-week contact over several months is another very important and highly rewarding commitment that their

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‘Passport to Success project’ provides training and coordination on.

It’s not just school- Similarly superb activities can be extended to over 18s as well; from school- leavers to unemployed young people, Own Grown asks that companies pledge to help as many young people as possible •Work taster sessions in which a young person enters the workplace, observes the nature of the work performed and possibly shadows a member of staff.

•Typically, work experience extends beyond that offered to an under-18, the young person would benefit enormously from the cv-enhancing time and get one step closer to paid employment.

•Longer periods of unpaid work placements, often granted to graduates, internships are now a pre-requisite for most young people and are hard to come by.

•At least one year of paid work, apprenticeships are formal training elements for a qualification; set up in almost every trade or skill, apprenticeships are hands-on and vitally, vocational experience for a young person in their chosen industry.

•Support and mentoring for a young person, can inform them and provide them the opportunity to set up a new business or inform them on the Do’s and Don’t’s of/ when it comes to self-employment.

•Also, Own Grown ask that companies ensure they are are offering interviews to young people if and when they recruit.

With the intention to reach the historically apt total of 1066 pledges, Own Grown is an initiative that aims to help young people learn the skills they need and receive the practical experience so desperately desired in order to succeed.

ay visit: To find out more of pledge tod owngrown@hastings.gov.uk or call: 01424 451795

It is my belief, that should more organisations like this exist, the young people of today would stand much more of a chance of entering the world of work in what is often a very youth un-friendly society.

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Regardless of the quality of your natural talent, getting yourself a good teacher is fundamental to success. As with every business, (for that is what I class my singing as) a network of professionals behind you, for guidance and studying is really key.

My name’s Bryn Haswell and I am a singer.

Since fourteen I have strived in music, and my passion has grown as I have.

For those of you reading this as a fledging musician, I make no secret of the fact your own journey will be hard and may throw you in directions you didn’t at first anticipate. And for others, reading out of curiosity, with a passion of their own to pursue, I hope this still inspires you in some way.

First thing you have to decide, is your goal – what do you want to get from your music?

For some, music is a hobby, an escape. Music is an integral part of everyday life. Simply liking music won’t earn you a place in the music industry - that’s like saying liking food should grant you a job as a food critic. You have to live and breathe it, to study it as a craft, for this lifestyle choice isn’t for the faint hearted.

I believe it’s possible to make it as a musician without natural talent, but it certainly helps. Interestingly, singing wasn’t actually what I wanted to do growing up, but my musical voyage began after I’d discovered I could sing. I was on holiday, age 14, with my family in Croatia when, for a laugh I went up and sang James Morrison’s “Wonderful World” for karaoke. The reception was both surprising and pleasing, with many comments on the strength of my voice, something I wasn’t aware of! I had a natural talent, a gift, and it would have been stupid of me to waste it.

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I sit and watch the X Factor and cringe at the awful auditions, but not just for the standard of singing. What bothers me most, is the teens that turn up with their parents who’ve championed their atrocious voices and conned them into believing that they’re good, and when the wall of harsh reality from the judges hits them, those kids crumble. I’m all for encouragement and positivity every kid has to be encouraged to succeed - but that has to be served with a slice of reality from their parents or they’re just being set up for disappointment.

Self-belief is vital – with so many potential musicians out there, confidence is a real make or break. Every successful musician has self-belief, regardless of how overt they are with it, if they didn’t, they wouldn’t have bothered trying so hard to make it. This self-belief is vital in the face of criticism.

I put myself in the public eye from an early age, starting busking at 16 on the streets of the North East. This experience was both vicious and rewarding, but really toughened me up.

Another thing you’ll find is people often let you down.

They promise you things, they build you up, say they’ll make things happen for you, and in the end leave you feeling djected, like you’ve failed. I have already experienced this countless times, from proposed managers to promised clients.

Make sure you always have someone behind you, be it a relative, friend, that you can rely to rescue you when things get tough.

Another thing you have to remember is that, like with

all professions, if it doesn’t work out you need a backup.

Please, whatever you do, don’t think, “Oh, I’m going to be a musician, qualifications aren’t important…” They are. Alongside my musical endeavours, I’m also a student with the Open University, because I’m aware of the necessity for a backup. Not every great musician will make it, that’s a harsh reality. A backup plan, something to fall back on, really is vital, I can’t stress that enough.

What’s next?Promotion. Getting your music heard is a musician’s fundamental goal, and this doesn’t just miraculously happen. I have worked incredibly hard for the fanbase I currently have, and although it certainly still has room to grow, I now have over 7000 twitter followers, 10000 views on YouTube and countless others who’ve seen me singing on North East streets. I’ve handed out thousands of business cards whilst busking, exchanging one for every donation. People seem to forget in this digital age that face to face contact, a physical exchange such as giving a business card can be just as effective, and a fair bit of my work has materialised through this.

Having said that, the importance of getting your stuff on social media and the web, be it Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, should never be overlooked.

I’ve also built my own website (www.brynofficial.com), something I’d highly recommend doing as it gives people a chance to see everything they need in one place.

It’s also really important to get yourself out there performing. Alongside my busking, I’ve also attended open mic nights and charity concerts, raising over a thousand pounds for different charities by organising and performing for various charities.

Another useful tool in getting your talent heard is the ‘dying’ medium of radio. Note the inverted commas; for all its cynics, in my opinion, radio is certainly not dying, merely evolving.

The emergence of internet radio in today’s society was a godsend for me

If you want to make a living from music, I think the main thing to remember is that nobody can make this happen but you. Sure, everyone needs help and guidance and it’s vital to surround yourself with that support network, but at the end of the day, that’s pointless if you personally aren’t prepared to see it through.

It takes practice, preparation, and commitment outside of the actual ‘singing’ to get yourself in a position where you can do that. Promotion, training, organisation, all these things are vital. There’s more to being a singer than just singing, and that’s what people forget.

If you simply want to sing, then that’s no problem, but it’ll always be nothing more than a hobby. Singing isn’t just my passion, it’s my business, and it’s really important people remember that. You have to approach it from a business perspective. Build your contacts, build your network, build your fanbase, but most importantly, always keep in mind your goal.

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It’s no secret, that despite th e Governmen numbers of y t reassuring u oung people b s that unemp attling throug loyment num h the harsh re b alities of toda y’s job marke t.

However, the problem spreads further than our shores to the continent, with European countries sharing the

same challenges and all implementing endless initiatives to tackle them. The EU has concluded that the most successful solution is to work together to provide opportunities for an international workforce of young workers who are willing to be geographically mobile to secure employment.

The leaders of four influential European countries: Germany, France, Spain and Italy, met in Rome recently to discuss youth employment and produce clear strategies to reduce the startlingly high unemployment figures which have become a universal cause for concern. According to recent statistics, 23.5% of under 25s are out of work in the EU, with figures above 50% in Spain and Greece.

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, told the BBC that she believes that greater mobility is the key

to tackling unemployment and countries need to create schemes to make this a reality.

Where is it working?

A successful scheme that implemented these principles is the collaborative initiative between German businesses and Spanish youths. Due to a shortage of local skilled workers, The Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria has encouraged businesses to employ Spanish workers in apprenticeships to help bolster the manufacturing sector, which drives the German economy.

Many Spanish under 25s seeking employment have struggled to find opportunities; therefore, the incentive of secure jobs has led to workers embracing a move to another country. The programme has resulted in the majority of the Spanish workers remaining in Germany a year later and its success means that 5000 more Spaniards will benefit from the scheme which will be activated throughout the country.

On a larger scale, the EU has created the Youth Opportunities Initiative as a clear set of measures to reduce youth employment. There are a variety of schemes aimed at increasing the number of school leavers and graduates in work across Europe, whether it is in your home country or abroad. Here are some of the best:

Youth Guarantee Scheme:

â‚Ź4 billion investment which aims to guarantee every young person a job, training or a further education placement within 4 months of leaving school or losing a job.

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bers are fallin g, there are sti ll significant .

Your First EURES Job: Action is for job seekers under 25 to find employment in another EU country. The initiative’s target is to place 5000 people into vacancies across Europe, a surplus of skills in one country may be valuable to another country with a shortage.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: Exchange programmes which provides young entrepreneurs with experience in one of 600 business placements across the EU, learning from experienced entrepreneurs in how to run successful businesses.

Impact on young people: All of this indicates that Governments are taking youth unemployment seriously and are implementing decisive action to tackle the problem. It seems there are employment opportunities available, but young people may need to be more flexible and widen their search area.

This may mean that job seekers should consider different parts of the country or for those who feel more intrepid, a move abroad may be the answer and present a whole new way of life.

Fran Daly, English Language Graduate, YEUK ambassador

abroad to Would you consider moving ing a job? increase your chances of secur s will work Do you think these initiative euk2012 in reality? Let us know at @y 35

£ £

Employer Wage Incentives What’s the deal?

T

he government has created a number of initiatives and incentives to encourage employers to recruit unemployed young people in an attempt to reduce youth unemployment and get the economy working.

We know how difficult it can be to make sense of all the different pots and incentives here is a brief guide to help you.

Work Trials A Work Trial is a way of trying out a potential employee before offering them a job. Once agreed with Jobcentre Plus, you can offer a work trial if the job is for 16 hours or more a week and lasting at least 13 weeks.

Work Choice Work Choice can help you to employ a disabled person who needs specialist support.

It’s a voluntary programme to help: • Disabled people who find it hard to get and keep a job • Employed people whose jobs are at risk because of their disability Work Choice is delivered by various organisations from the public, private and third sectors (‘providers’).

A provider will work with you to develop a package of support specially designed for your business and the individual with the aim of developing their skills.

Youth Contract This is a government scheme to help unemployed people aged 18 to 24 find work. As a recruiter, you can get involved in a number of ways.

Wage incentives There are 160,000 wage incentives available for employers between April 2012 and April 2015.

As part of the Youth Contract, you could get up to £2,275 if you recruit an 18 to 24 year old through Jobcentre Plus (in England, Scotland and Wales) or through the Work Programme.

*Information taken from https://www.gov.uk/jobcentre-plus-help-for-recruiters/overview 36

£ £

A provider will work with you to develop a package of support specially designed for your business and the individual with the aim of developing their skills.

Youth Contract This is a government scheme to help unemployed people aged 18 to 24 find work. As a recruiter, you can get involved in a number of ways.

Wage incentives: There are 160,000 wage incentives available for employers between April 2012 and April 2015.

As part of the Youth Contract, you could get up to £2,275 if you recruit an 18 to 24 year old through Jobcentre Plus (in England, Scotland and Wales) or through the Work Programme.

Work experience: Work experience is available to every 18 to 24 year old before they enter the Work Programme.

If you offer a young person work experience you’ll be helping to give them a better chance of finding work.

Work Programme This is run by private and voluntary organisations called ‘providers’. They’re paid to help long-term unemployed people into work.

Your local provider could help with your recruitment needs and help you get the right person for the job.

Wage incentives You could claim up to £2,275 if you recruit an 18 to 24-yearold who’s been out of work and receiving benefits for at least 6 months: • through Jobcentre Plus • through the Work Programme • through the Work Choice Programme (if you take on a young disabled person) To be eligible, the job must last more than 26 weeks and be for 16 hours or more each week.

You can claim 26 weeks after the employee starts work. If you have less than 50 employees you can claim part payment 8 weeks after they start work.

ing opporDon’t forget if you are prov id are almost tunities for young people you National cer tainly eligible for the FREE ye uk.org.

Youth Friendly Badge – www. uk

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On the 6th of June I attended a Youth Enterprise Summit in Hull.

The aim of the Summit was to show people from the business community how enterprising the young people are in Hull and East Riding; with the purpose of inspiring businesses to get behind the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership and its young people.

I was inspired by the number of schools and businesses that came together to support the City’s young people. Hull seems to really understand the need to invest in its youth generation; young people are essential to the long term success of the City and the Hull business community gets that.

The opportunities for young people in Hull are exceptional, as an example, over 90 primary and secondary schools take part in the “Make a fiver flourish” competition, an initiative to support and develop enterprise skills. A Youth Enterprise bank has recently been established to support young start-ups. Sponsored and supported by the business community, young people are given the opportunity to apply for start-up funding and business support. These are just two of the many brilliant Lee, an enterprising student from Malet Lam- programmes we heard about on the day. bert, he wants to inspire other young people We met a number of young people who have all started their own business with the support of their schools and the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership; some of these businesses were already local successes and have big ambitions.

Investment in young people in terms of Enterprise, Employability and experiences of the World of Work shone out everywhere. I am confident that the students who benefit from these experiences will be very well prepared for their futures post-education and, as Hull knows, will Ruth Badger with the enterprising students & be able to put something back into the community once founders of Green Queens they leave education.

Youth Employment UK CIC is the home of the FREE national Youth Friendly Badge for employers, if we had a Youth Friendly City Badge I have no doubt that Hull would qualify for it and, in fact, lead the way for being the most Youth Friendly City.

This is me talking to a young entrepreneur & curriculum script writer 38

Laura-Jane Rawlings www.youthenterprise-hull.co.uk

Often we hear complaints from the business community about the lack of work skills of young people or the fact that young people are not making career choices in the sectors where there are jobs.

We think this is one of the BIG problems of youth unemployment; young people don’t get enough opportunities to develop the work skills they need, and without access to the world of work don’t always know where the career and job opportunities are.

So what do we do?

A) Should we leave it to government to reform the education system (again) to ensure the priorities are around Employability and Careers Learning? We think Education can do better and in part lobby for this type of change, or B) Should young people take responsibility for their employability and careers journey, find out what the expectations and needs of employers and develop their own skills to meet those needs? We think so that’s why we have a FREE Youth Members area and why we created the Positive Youth Charter C) Should the UK business community get behind its young people and develop the opportunities to learn the skills, gain experiences and get inspired so they are ready for the world of work?

We think so that’s why we created the Youth Friendly Badge!

Already thousands of UK employers are doing just this, they are engaging with the young people in their communities and providing opportunities.

As part of our work at Youth Employment UK we want to shout out about as many of these great initiatives as we can, so we can inspire others and help young people to connect with the opportunities available.

Here is our employer inspiration for JuneMicrosoft UK’s ‘Get On’ programme aims to help 300,000 young people in Britain over three years take meaningful steps towards work. ‘Get On’ creates opportunities through a variety of programmes to : Get Inspired, Get Skilled, Get a Job. Providing insights, skills and advice on the first steps into the working world.

It is part of Microsoft’s global commitment to the next generation, YouthSpark. We will do this through a number of initiatives which will launch during the lifetime of the programme.

As part of ‘Get On’ Microsoft run IT Industry Taster events every 6 weeks in London, a free ½ day event which aims to support young people to find out about the world of IT, learn about the skillsneeded, the opportunities available and how to succeed. These events are open to anyone aged 16-24.

For More information visit: http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/citizenship/get-on/ or find their Facebook page to find out when the next IT Industry Taster Experience is https://www.facebook.com/ MicrosoftGetOn

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Have your students got what it takes to put their creative and entrepreneurial talents up against Schools, Colleges and Universities right across the UK? We are looking for Schools, Colleges and Universities to deliver entries for our national Poster Campaign competition.

The winning entry will become the 2013/14 Poster Campaign for Youth Employment UK CIC, helping us to make a difference to youth unemployment in the UK. The winning School, College or University will be given a two page spread in the Youth Employment UK e-magazine (circa >16,000pm) to showcase its enrichment and enterprising culture.

Option 1 Making the UK Youth Friendly

Option 2 Encouraging young people to have their say

Youth unemployment is an issue that every Youth Employment UK CIC launched a nationyoung person in the UK should be involved in. al badge that rewards and recognises those UK employers who are supporting young people Nearly 1 in 5 young people are at risk of being into employment.

NEET and almost every young person will have To really fight youth unemployment we need some experience of youth unemployment.

We want young people to become members of more employers to become “Youth Friendly�

Youth Employment UK CIC, the membership is and provide opportunities for work experience, careers talks and of course work for young peofree and our members get to have their voices ple. heard on all things youth unemployment.

Being Youth Friendly does not come at a cost, There are lots of benefits to becoming a member, we bring our members careers information, but it is good for business, good for the economy and good for the community. news about opportunities across the UK and of course all things relating to youth unemployWe want a Poster Campaign that will encourment. age, inspire and motivate more UK employers to register for the free badge and become Youth We want a Poster Campaign to encourage 16-24 Friendly. year olds to join us and have their voices heard.

For a full brief and competition rules and submission details please visit http://www.yeuk.org.uk/poster-campaign-competition/ 40 Deadline is 12pm on the 15th of July

Competition Brief

This is the first national Poster Campaign competition run by Youth Employment UK CIC. We are looking for the 2013/14 Poster Campaign for Youth Employment UK. The winning designs will be used throughout 2013/14 across our social media, e-magazine and partner platforms.

Youth unemployment is a real issue in the UK and as the only dedicated campaigning and membership organisation we are committed to tackling it head on. We want to encourage more UK employers to become Youth Friendly and in fact we want to make the UK the most Youth Friendly place to work.

We also want to engage with as many 16-24 year olds affected or at risk of being affected by youth unemployment. We need to ensure that young people Step Up to the issue and help us ensure their voices are heard.

We are therefore looking for two separate poster campaigns, one to inspire UK employers to become Youth Friendly and the other to inspire young people to get behind this cause.

We are looking for creative and unique posters that will attract the relevant audience and inspire them to join us.

Entrants are welcome to submit more than one poster for either campaign as a series of posters, but must then include their thoughts on roll out and campaign management. Entrants can research information via www.yeuk.org.uk Winning entries will be used throughout our 2013/14 marketing strategies and the creator formally recognised for their work. The school, college or university that submits the winning entry will be awarded a two page A4 spread in the Youth Employment NEWS e-magazine to showcase its social, enrichment and entrepreneurial engagement.

Competition Rules

1.Students can pick which campaign they want to work on, but entries must be submitted via the school, college or university they attend.

2.The competition is free to enter, schools, colleges and universities can submit more than one entry.

3.Entrants must be from students who are studying either full or part-time and are between the ages of 16 – 24 years old.

4.Competition entries cannot be returned under any circumstances.

5.Entries are to be designed as an A4 Poster 6.Entries accepted via email in a PDF attachment 7.Drawings, images, captions used must be unique to the entrant and not copied from the internet. The administering organisations will not be made partially or fully liable for any non-original work submitted by you and any entries containing images they do not have the right to use will be excluded.

8.All entries must be suitable for public viewing and must not include any defamatory, offensive or unlawful content.

9.The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into concerning this decision.

10.By submitting the Poster Campaign you are awarding the Copyright to Youth Employment UK CIC without exception.

11.Due to the volume of entries we are unable to respond to entrants individually.

12.Youth Employment UK CIC reserves the right to use the campaign entries in any way it choses for any period of time.

Submission Rules

School, College or University must submit the entry from their students. One email per entry detailing: establishment name, address, contacts details along with the name/s and age/s of the entrants.

Entries must be submitted by 12pm on the 15th of July. The winners will be announced on the 19th of July and the winning entries will feature in the July Youth Employment NEWS e-magazine.

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Youth Employment UK CIC is a not for profit organisation working hard to fight youth unemployment and underemployment in the UK. We are the only campaigning and membership organisation in the UK that works with Employers, Educators, Providers and Young People bringing a “joined up approach” to creating a Youth Friendly UK

Benefits to joining Youth Employment UK CIC � Support a national organisation working to fight youth unemployment & underemployment � Access to online forums & best practice documents � Editorial space in the Youth Employment NEWS magazine � Free promotion of events, opportunities and training activities (*) � Inclusion in the members directory � Member rates at events � Use of Youth Employment UK logo, a growing brand recognised by young people & employers � Contribute to national lobbying voice on youth employment issues All of our members must agree to signing the Positive Youth Charter before membership is accepted. Membership rates start at just £75.00 per year. For more information on Youth Employment UK CIC, our members and projects so far please visit www.yeuk.org.uk To make membership or sponsorship enquiries please email info@yeuk.org.uk (*) this is subject to limitations and advertisements meeting the YEUK criteria

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•Are you 16-24?

•Does youth unemployment or underemployment worry or affect you?

•Are you unsure about your next step and how to make sense of all of the choices and information available?

•Do you feel like your voice is not being heard?

Then join Youth Employment UK CIC, get involved and support a national campaigning organisation working hard to fight youth unemployment in the UK Joining is free to 16-24 year old and membership includes: One place where you can keep up to date with youth employment news A clear impartial signposting service (there are over 729,000,000 resources on google for careers information), at YEUK young people can get the basic what, how, when, why and where and then be signposted back out to the websites and organisations most relevant to them Sign Up to our charter Contribute to national campaigns and ensure your voice is heard Enter Youth Employment UK Competitions Access to the O2 Think Big Programme Subscription to the monthly Youth Employment NEWS e-magazine

*COMING SOON*

Is education preparing us for work?

How many of this summer’s education leavers have plans Digital Bad Hair Days Traineeships Update Employer Mentoring Guide 5 Things you can do now to help your chances on employment A spotlight on L’Oreal

Youth Unemployment is an issue for every young person in the UK and through our growing campaign you can get involved and help us make the UK more “Youth Friendly”

If we can get thousands of young people to Step Up and sign the Positive Youth Charter we can show the UK that young people are invested in this issue and inspire employers and youth organisations to do the same.

Join us at www.yeuk.org.uk

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To contact Youth Employment UK CIC Business & School membership: ljr@yeuk.org.uk Volunteer Youth Ambassadors: info@yeuk.org.uk To ask for an advertising rate card or to speak about magazine content: info@yeuk.org.uk Visit: www.yeuk.org.uk

Or Call: 08444 143101

The information contained in this e-Magazine is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Youth Employment UK CIC and guest editors/blog producers and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the e-Magazine or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the magazine for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Any views expressed here are not necessarily endorsed by Youth Employment UK CIC, Youth Employment News, Inspire2Exceed, Advertisers, Webmaster or any individuals or organisations.

Links outside of Youth Employment UK (external links) are provided for user convenience and do not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by Youth Employment UK. All articles on our site are copyrighted material by the authors to include any graphics that are included with them. Photographs are also copyrighted.

If you, the reader, have any grievances with any material that is posted on this site, you are responsible for contacting the author in question.

This disclaimer is subject to change without notice.

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Increasing the number of young people in employment in the UK

Youth Employment NEWS E-Magazine The Youth Employment NEWS e-magazine is a free online publication that is subscribed to by a wide audience including: Universities, FE Colleges, Schools, UK Employers, Training Providers, Job Centre Plus and Young People.

Published monthly Distributed Nationwide Subscribers/Readers >16795 (April 2013) ADVERTISING RATECARD AND ARTWORK SPECIFICATION Introductory Rates for early advertisers – rates will increase with subscription numbers.

Display advertising also includes a promotion on our Facebook & Twitter pages.

Display advertising (price per issue) 1 issue Inside Front Cover (when £1050 available) Inside Back Cover £1050 Outside Back Cover (when £1250 available) Full Page £850 Half Page £540 Quarter Page £280 Classified advertising 1/8 1/16

£250 £150

3 issues £890

6 issues £790

£890 £1060

£790 £940

£720 £460 £240

£640 £400 £210

£220 £125

£200 £100

Artwork details ARTWORK SPECIFICATION: ACCEPTED: InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop files. High resolution PDF, PNG and TIF files with all fonts embedded. (Artwork in Microsoft Word NOT ACCEPTED). All images must be to scale, at minimum 300dpi in EPS or TIF format. All fonts must be supplied.

Copy deadlines



14th May

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11t June 16th July 12th August

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10th September 15th October 12th November 10th December

To make enquiries or book your advert Email: emag@yeuk.org.uk Call: 0844 4143101 ...........................................................................................................................................................................

Youth Employment UK www.yeuk.org.uk

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Campaign managed by Inspire2Exceed Ltd 7577313. Inspire House 28 Buttercup Close, Corby. NN18 8LB

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