‘Renewed dedication' needed to tackle youth unemployment in London?

According to report The City’s Business: Helping young Londoners towards and into employment, nearly 20 per cent of young people in the capital are unemployed, with London having the third highest rate of 16-to 24-year-olds out of work in England.

??The report said more can be done to prevent young people falling through the net.

“It is time to tackle youth unemployment in London with renewed dedication,” it said.

“Young people need to be helped to develop the skills that employers require to meet current and future demands. We need to address the disconnect between skills and business needs.”

?Created by a panel of people from city businesses, Livery companies, voluntary and community organisations, London local authorities and the City Corporation, the report outlines five key steps for city institutions to follow to help tackle youth unemployment. ??

It said institutions can act as “good role models” by ensuring their own support for unemployed young people is the best it can be, while those seeking to become involved should target support where it is needed. ??

“Organisations seeking to become involved in this area should aim to build on what is already there and fill gaps rather than duplicate,” the report stated.

??Businesses should also look at collaborative work, the report said because “there are many organisations operating within the city and across London that have specific expertise and experience working with young people”.

In addition, it said small institutions should not be intimidated by the scale of youth unemployment or the programmes that bigger businesses put in place to tackle the issue, and it is also important organisations monitor and evaluate what they are hoping to achieve from their support for young people.

The report was launch at Guildhall in London on 21 March.??

Mark Boleat, chairman of the policy and resources committee at the City of London, said: “This report is evidence that not enough if being done to tackle youth unemployment and we believe that city institutions can do more to addresses these challenges.

??“The five simple steps set out in the report give clear guidance on how we can make a tangible difference to the lives of disadvantaged young Londoners.”

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