Purpose support BITC in tackling youth unemployment

October 2014

18.5% of economically active young people (15-24) are unemployed.

Too many young people are not making a successful transition from education to work and we as businesses need to help.

That’s the purpose of the Talent and Skills Leadership team at Business in the Community. 

The group comprises of senior business leaders from companies such as Barclays, Marks & Spencer, Alliance Boots, Whitbread and McDonald’s, and is chaired by Steve Holliday, CEO of National Grid. Collectively they’re helping remove the barriers for unemployed young people looking to enter the workforce.

They are looking to build on successes they’ve already had in their respective sectors and drive greater engagement with small and medium sized businesses across the UK. However, this team are certainly not alone in tackling this problem, which ironically is part of the problem.

All have good intentions, but many are bumping into one another and making it difficult for those who can help to work out which way to turn.

We have therefore been helping the team develop a strategic campaign to connect with businesses, enable them to navigate all the initiatives and deliver practical tools for tackling the problem.

With a strategy now defined the team are seeking funding for the initiative.

If you are interested in supporting this initiative or would like to know more information, please contact stuart@purpose.co.uk or visit bitc.org.uk