I’ve met many young people on visits to schools, colleges and businesses who have shared their worries about the challenging job market. The data proves what these young people already know: for too long, youth unemployment has been going in the wrong direction.
That’s why I’m really pleased that this Labour government has announced that more businesses may be eligible for grants for hiring people aged 18 to 24. The government is also introducing stronger incentives for small and medium sized businesses to hire young apprentices.
The detail of some of these measures is still being worked through and I’ll share more for news when I can – but for now this is looking like good news for the next generation of the workforce in our city.
As every, I’d be interested in views and opinions. And if you’re a local business that has a great story to tell about how you’re hiring and developing young staff, I’d love to hear from you and see it for myself!