Educational charity Common Purpose is offering 100 free places on its leadership development programme aimed at helping talented young people who are unable to find a job.
The offer comes as a response to recent labour market statistics, which indicated the number of unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds rose by a record 60,000 between October 2008 and March 2009.
Julia Middleton, chief executive of Common Purpose said: "We have to redress this imbalance because organisations and society need more young people prepared and able to stand up as leaders.
"You have to learn to lead young because it's a bumpy ride, you inevitably get it right and wrong for a long time, and you have to be able to bounce back, forgive yourself and keep going."
The Frontrunner programme is open to over-18s, who may be in full-time education or in the early stages of their career, and who have already shown evidence of leadership.
There are two programmes being held in Bristol and Belfast. For more information phone 020 7608 8148.
