Youth employment prospects examined

21 November 2016

The Work and Pensions Committee hears from young ambassadors and representatives of charities that support young people, and current and former apprentices in construction, as part of its inquiry into improving employment opportunities for young people.

Witnesses

Monday 21 November 2016, Wilson Room, Portcullis House

At 3.45pm

Richard Chadwick, Director of Programmes and Development, Prince's Trust
Samantha Kerr, Young ambassador, Prince's Trust
Luke McCarthy, Programme Development Manager, ThinkForward
Kiianu Glasgow, Young ambassador, ThinkForward

At 4.30pm

Gillian Econopouly, Head of Policy and Research, Construction Industry Training Board
Dean Smith, Director, HR Group Operations, Carillion
Chris Oxford, Assistant Project Engineer, Carillion
Jaden Waugh, Former apprentice, Carillion

Focus of the session

Unemployment rates for young people have fallen since their peak in 2011/12, but are still more than double the general unemployment rate. A number of recent developments affect the support that is available to young people. In particular, funding for the Youth Contract package of support has ended, and the Government's new "Youth Obligation" will only be available to young people in Universal Credit full service areas.

In this session, the Committee examines the impact of these changes on young people's employment prospects. It considers the extent to which young people are a group in need of specialist employment support provision, whether current arrangements are able to meet this need, and where improvements might be made.

This is the first of three evidence sessions, and features young people with first-hand experience of the support services and opportunities that are available.

Further information

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