Break the cycle

At a time of high youth unemployment, with more than 1 million young people in the UK still out of work, there is a real need to create apprenticeships and find ways of getting our future generation trained and employed.

In a situation whereby the supply of skilled labour often fails to match employer demand and apprenticeships are rare, many young people are left feeling trapped in a cycle without work or future prospects.

On-the-job training is vital to UK businesses and, through an apprenticeship, valuable experience can be gained - training young people with the practical skills required for today’s competitive market. In fact, a poll conducted by totaljobs.com found that 44 per cent of university graduates wished they had studied a vocational subject instead. The launch of Inside Housing’s Homes Work campaign proves vital in the expansion of apprenticeships offered to young British people by developers.

Through working with schools and colleges, it will revitalise lost links, and centralise the apprenticeships available, making it easier to access information on them.

In addition to this, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Young Labour have also launched an apprenticeships campaign calling on the government to engage with businesses and local government bodies to improve the quality of apprenticeships and increase the number on offer.

Through an apprenticeship, young people are able to gain recognised qualifi cations, while gaining real life experience and making a positive contribution to the UK’s economy. It is so important that we boost their supply and improve their quality.

Read more about Inside Housing’s Homes Work campaign here.

Roxana Andrusca is a former UK global poverty ambassador for the Global Poverty Project and co-chair of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Labour