Let’s help our young

BARACK Obama’s visit to scotland gave a boost to our young jobseekers last week, with the call to business

people to spare an hour to inspire pupils.

If we are to help all 16-24 year olds kick-start their working lives, employers need to get involved by providing paid jobs for school leavers (temporary or permanent) and through mentoring.

Many school and college leavers have no experience of the workplace. Whether it is dress code or the etiquette of arriving and leaving on time, how to address someone in an email, or acceptable mobile phone use, these young adults often do not know what is expected of them.

Last year, our initiative, Hand Picked, supported more than 100 young adults with employability training or work experience, with a near 100 per cent success rate.

That is because our focus is on employer sponsorships, in which the employer plays a pivotal role in teaching workplace skills.

According to research by Founders4Schools, which arranged for ten Scottish students to meet Mr Obama, the more encounters school children have with businesses the better their job prospects.

Businesses create jobs and business people are best placed to shape the workforce of the future. Getting the ‘bosses’ involved and speaking to young people has an impact. GERARD EADIE, founder,

Hand Picked, Dunfermline, Fife.