Mayor's View: Work experience matters now more than ever

Work experience season is upon us and many young people across Peterborough will be looking forward to their first taste of the workplace.  

Work experience has the power to ignite that confidence in young people. To make them believe jobs and careers are something to look forward to, not fear. And now, more than ever, we need schemes like work experience, because the national picture is stark. 

One million young people aged 16 to 24 nationally are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). The recent review led by Alan Milburn talked of a "risk of a lost generation" and that young people who remain out of work between 18 and 24 could lose £300,000 over their lifetime.  

Peterborough fares worse than the rest of the country with 5.4% of young people with NEET status ahead of the national average of 3.4%. 

The Combined Authority is doing its part to boost work experience opportunity. With our Careers Hub, we work with employers and schools to drive up work experience opportunity. 

We’re also promoting what is now called Modern Work Experience. This runs from Years 7 to 13, and may mean a trip into a workplace as a younger child, through to full week or two-week placements when they are older. It’s about creating a lasting, meaningful workplace experience, rather than the traditional week bolted into their school year. 

Work experience won't fix everything, but it’s a part of the picture that brings the workplace closer to young people at an earlier age. It builds confidence and gives a young person a reference point, or a skill, or a reason to believe that the world of work is somewhere they belong and can thrive. 

And we’re doing more. 

The Youth Hub at Peterborough United that we established with our partners is open for young people aged 16 to 24 to drop in, no appointment needed, for support with work, training and education, all under one roof. Work experience may well be an avenue they are pointed to 

Sometimes, it’s also about making it easier for employers. Our Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is funding paid internships for 18-to-21 year olds, meaning that employers have no cost barriers to giving people a six-week placement that could change their lives.   

And today, work experience isn’t just for young people. Through our Connect to Work programme, we’re helping people who face long term barriers to employment, which can include work experience.  

But we need employers at the table too. 

If you run a business in Peterborough of any size, in any sector I'd ask you to consider whether you could offer a young person a taste of the world of work. If that’s you, contact your local schools to see if you can help.  

Our economy needs skilled, motivated new people and we need to tackle this crisis of young people falling between the cracks. Peterborough has the young talent waiting to be unlocked, and work experience can help set them on their way.