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Find your way round the discussions by clicking on any of the issues below:
Find your way round the discussions by clicking on any of the issues below:
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Everyone on unemployment
The Government has announced a £60 million package aimed at boosting work prospects and "transforming" vocational education. The Government said it will provide funding for up to 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years, and fund 100,000 work placements over the next two years.
At the same time the head of McDonald's in Britain, Jane McDonald, has claimed that school leavers would be... Read more
about 2 years ago
Charlotte Beckett
What about if the job involved formal training? Could employers become educators too?
Tasha Wharton
Yeah I think jobs with formal training would be a really good option. Especially in certain industries
Mohammed Ahmed
Looks like degrees still aren't enough..."Graduates who have not bothered to secure work experience while studying stand "little or no" chance of getting a job at one of the UK's leading employers, a new report showed."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/hr-news/8265125/Graduates-without-work-experience-wont-find-job.html
Tasha Wharton
It's true that work placements have a huge impact on being able to secure a job. What companies want is people who can hit the ground running with little or no extra training. Internships are now the entry level jobs and yet remain largely unpaid.
If I could have afforded to do work placements whilst studying I would've done. However, my loan barely covered my rent. Talking to other people many... Read more
Ruth Hennell
I think it depends if you are going to University to study a subject you love then there is a point! but if you want to get working then uni is not the only option.
As Tasha said, one of the biggest problems is unpaid internships, sometimes it is easiest for non-graduates to get experience through apprenticeships which aren't open to those with a degree) than graduates who have to somehow manage... Read more
Would Britain be better if everyone worked only 21 hours a week?
People would be happier because they'd have better lives outside of work and more time to spend with their families. There'd be more jobs to go around, and time to volunteer.
Interesting stuff based on a report from the New Economics Foundation - is getting everyone to work less the answer to ironing out inequalities? Would you... Read more
over 2 years ago
VGary Brunskill
you also have to bear in mind those who are unable to work and on incapacity benefits etc.. how would this affect them ???
Chris Willis
Would love to have to only work 21, that would be AWESOME!
sarah hignett
no my partner works 25 hours on minimum wage and that is not enough to pay bills, do shopping ect. so 21 hours would be alot less! maybe if young people were paid equally to the rest of society then it could be possible! i'd like to see the govenment work their hours on £5 an hour! see how long they last!!
Joshuaa Godson
this would be a terrible idea, as nobody would have any money, it would be great for people working in offices, being paid by somebody in higher authority, but what about the farmer? if he worked 21 hours a week the crops would not grow. at all, and if 20 more people were working on the farm to fill up the hours, think of the fuel needed to transport them, the insurance and the training needed... Read more
Aklima Vinspired
I don't think that would be a good idea because not everyone can live on a 21 hours wage. people would start having money problems
Following shocking stats that 1 in 5 16-24-year-olds are jobless, vet charity PDSA is offering 'speed volunteering' - taster sessions at its charity shops next week (4-9 April). You can 'try before you buy' to see if volunteering would suit you. It can improve employment prospects, boost confidence & give you the chance to learn new skills, while helping a good cause. Find out more by watching... Read more
about 2 years ago
Kate VInspired
Hi Lisa, thanks for posting your video- it's a great idea for people to try out volunteering and hopefully they will want to stay involved after their first taster!! Can people get involved in the lend a paw project across the country?
Lisa Pdsa
Thanks Kate - we're hoping lots of people will give a try! Yes people can get involved across the UK as PDSA has over 180 stores in towns and cities in Scotland, England, Wales & NI.
To find out where your local volunteering opportunities are, call freephone 0800 854194 or email volunteers@pdsa.org.uk
Ruth Hennell
Often when you are looking for work and hoping a job will accept you, then you can't commit for a long time, it's really great when charities can make volunteering flexible to fit in with the different needs of volunteers!
Lisa Pdsa
Hi Ruth, absolutely, that's the brilliant thing about volunteering! Seeing as its National Volunteers' Week (1-7 June), I'd definitely encourage people to give volunteering a try!.
I'm helping at a community education centre, to develop a series of fun and inspiring workshops on recognising employability skills in participants past experiences. This is aimed at building confidence in people from disadvantaged backgrounds and will help to facilitate pathways into work and personal development that is meaningful to them.
about 2 years ago
Charlotte Beckett
This comment has been removed by the user.
Charlotte Beckett
This comment has been removed by the user.
Charlotte Beckett
Hi Jules, that sounds like a fantastic project. Can you tell us more?
Phillip Ly
I agree - sounds like a really interesting project. remember seeing something similar on the Futureversity website too, may be worth a visit? http://www.futureversity.org/
over 2 years ago
Kate VInspired
Check out Jamie's video above, including interviews with young people on jobs and youth employment. Get involved in the debate around youth employment:
What is your current employment status?
Is having a job a priority to you?
Do you think National Minimum wage is enough?
Rui Jorge Octavio
i work part-time and having a job is definately priority for me in order to live. NMW is enough, if people want to gain more than they will need to develop skills that will increase their value. Engage in personal development and volunteering can help. check out my video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRTKSinkOO0
As the unemployment rate increases the government should be focusing in introducing new schemes to get people into employment. I was very disappointed to hear The Future Jobs Fund (FJF), which sees the government pay for 6-month work placements in organisations has become one of the casualties caught in the government’s cuts. Recently graduating from university and getting a job through FJF I know... Read more
over 2 years ago
Tracey Herald
hey Muntakim - interesting to hear your views on the Future Jobs Fund, especially in light of the views expressed by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pre-election:
David Cameron praised the Future Jobs Fund as a “good scheme” and the Conservatives said they had “no plans to change existing Future Jobs Fund commitments”. (Liverpool Daily Post, 31 March 2010; letter from Theresa May MP to Association... Read more
Mohammed Ahmed
The FJF: it was expensive but it worked! Now, with youth unemployment at around a million, we can't afford to cut policies that will actually get young people into work. Supply-side policies, such as FJF, are key when trying to create growth and get Britain "back on the road to recovery" but sadly, this figure will probarbly increase in the next few months. When will this coalition stop short termism... Read more
I am lucky enough to be studying a course which has no tuition fees and has a bursary connected to it. Even with these advantages, I am finding university life a real struggle and am going to need to find some form of job in order to pay the rent - how do normal students cope?!
over 2 years ago
Chandni Bhana
Your one of the lucky ones, with no tuition fees! Imagine those that are affected by the rise in fees, i back the student protests in london
Rachel Anderton
I'm also lucky not to pay any fees but i'm struggling too to keep a balance of work and uni in check. I feel so bad for all those down in England who have a rise in tuition fees to pay and hope that it can be reversed and that free tuition fees for all with be in place one day soon!!
it's hard to keep track - but there comes a point where the big headlines, or big numbers that you cant quite relate to, start to trickle down and become the small things that matter.
slashing bugets by billions or millions, seems like a scary figure - but what does it actually mean to you or me? and, more importantly what does anyone have to gain by explaining what the actual cost is to the person... Read more
over 2 years ago
Chandni Bhana
This comment has been removed by the user.
Rui Jorge Octavio
i think the real question is: what are we doing about this?
The meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Affairs, at the House of Commons was very interesting. Chris Grayling, MP, was asked a lot of questions on key issues regarding the "Work Programme" that was rolled out across the UK earlier this month.
The feasibility of the programme itself in the light of understanding the level of unavailability of jobs in the country was questioned... Read more
almost 2 years ago
Myriam Roberts
I was at the APPG on the 'Work Programme' and feel that the government has washed its hands of youth unemployment by allowing companys and others e.g Prince Trust ,V and BYC to deliver the programme in any way they see fit! Because of this the entry criteria is very narrowfor the youth and many people will miss out on this programme of support!
Hi All
Hope you are well.
Last night was our first official screening of our KIC FM Film/Documentary, created by young people about the successes of KIC from the past 13 years.
As promised, here is a link to the full film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtTGaBme5LY
Following the documentary, we welcomed 2 guest speakers, Paul Brighton, Head Of Media from the University of Wolverhampton, and... Read more
about 2 years ago
Charlotte Beckett
Thanks Kenny - a fantastic documentary. The team at KIC FM have achieved a lot since 1999 and this really makes it clear how much .