Youth Unemployment

Thursday 11th March 2010, Guoman Charing Cross, London, 08:30 - 16:05

Tackling Youth Unemployment: The Way Forward

“In previous recessions, unemployment amongst this age group [16-18 year olds] rose sharply, but these figures show that this in not happening this time around, nor will we allow it to happen. Now is the time to invest in young people and in the future of this country. When the recession lifts we will have the most skilled generation ever waiting to take the new jobs created.”

Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, November 2009

Overview

Despite the highest proportion of 16-18 year olds participating in education or training, the number of young people who are unemployed is likely to rise to one million by 2010. A failure to address youth unemployment could undermine social cohesion and have serious consequences for the economy. A Prince’s Trust report (April 2007) estimated the cost to the country at £3.6bn a year.

From April 2009, every young person who has not been in employment, education or training for at least 26 weeks by their 18th birthday will be fast-tracked to the intensive, Jobcentre Plus led, support and sanctions regime. They will have to prove that they are actively looking for work and engaging in work related activity - if they don’t their benefits will be stopped. If they fail to find work during the next six months, they will be referred to a specialist provider from the voluntary or private sector, who will ensure that they undertake a minimum of four weeks full time work-related activity relevant to the individual.

The government is working to reform its approach to the learning, training and support services for 14 – 19 year olds through a comprehensive strategy. This involves transferring responsibility for education and training of all young people up to the age of 18 to local authorities, the September Guarantee, Flexible New Deal, Future Jobs Fund, introduction of diplomas and a national apprenticeship scheme, and raising the school leaving age to 17 in 2013, and to 18 by 2015.

However, with the trend in youth long-term unemployment rising, this forum will offer a timely opportunity to delegates to examine the key issues that must be addressed to provide young people with the comprehensive, integrated support they need to continue in education and training and prevent them from falling into unemployment.

Agenda

08:30	Registration and Coffee
09:00	Chair’s Welcome Address John Bateman OBE, Chief Executive, UK Youth (CONFIRMED)
09:05	What Works and Why: reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training: an Ofsted perspective Fred Brown, HMI, Ofsted (CONFIRMED)
09:25	Commissioning 16-19 Education to Prevent Youth Unemployment John Freeman CBE, Director, React Programme, Local Government Association (CONFIRMED)
09:45	Engaging Employers, Inspiring Young People Strengthening employer engagement Building strong and sustainable partnerships with employers Developing learner skills through work placements Championing the Diploma Anthony Mann, Director, Policy and Research, Education and Employers Taskforce (CONFIRMED)
10:05	Questions and Answers Session
10:40	Reducing Youth Unemployment in Knowsley Knowsley Apprenticeship Scheme: how does it work? How is it funded?Why has it been so successful? Reducing the number of young people who are NEET in Knowsley: Knowsley Skills Academy Working with local partners to create good quality employment opportunities Cllr Ron Round, Leader, Knowsley Council (CONFIRMED)
11:00	Questions and Answers Session
11:10	Coffee Break and Networking
11:35	v’s Response to Youth Unemployment Rena Sodhi, Director of Policy and Programmes at v, the National Young Volunteers Service (CONFIRMED)
11:50	Aiming Higher through Learning, Skills and Training Strengthening the local economy: Working with employer organisations and local communities to improve employability Supporting local communities: widening non-traditional pathways into higher education Fostering a culture of achievement and learning through extensive outreach/in-reach work Policy, implementation and practice: key success factors to increase learning and raise aspirations: Strengthening partnerships to realise the ambitions of young people Working with employers to meet the divergent needs of NEET communities 2010 and beyond: the key challenges ahead Professor Mike Thorne, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Anglia Ruskin University (CONFIRMED)
12:10	Solutions to Youth Unemployment Engaging young people in employability programmes - Prince's Trust solutions Developing relevant skills to help young people get into work - what young people need / what employers want Hearing directly from a young person about what works Ginny Lunn, Director of Policy and Development, Prince’s Trust (CONFIRMED)
12:40	National Apprenticeships: Meeting the Needs of Young People, their Communities and the Local Economy National Apprenticeship Service: a vision for 2020 Coordinated, coherent strategy: national service, locally delivered Key options: incentives to reengage with learning and training Realising ambitions, raising attainment: employer, learner and web-based matching service Strengthening the local and regional economy Benita Holmes, Business Development Director, National Apprenticeship Service (CONFIRMED)
13:00	Questions and Answers Session
13:10	Lunch and Networking
14:10	Full potential: Supporting more Young People through Interventions with Impact The complexity of the issue for 2010 and beyond What does work in helping more NEETs to get back on track What further actions need to be taken to tackle the issue effectively Fiona Murray, Research, Policy and Communications Manager, Private Equity Foundation (CONFIRMED)
14:30	DWP Session Young People in the Recession: DWP Analysis and Policy Response Trends and analysis - the impact economic decline has had on the youth labour market and the claimant count What policies are or will be put in place to reduce youth unemployment? Laura Webster, Economic Impact Unit and Pat Russell, Jobseekers Division, Department for Work and Pensions (CONFIRMED)
14:50	Coffee Break and Networking
15:00	Creating Employment Opportunities in Greenwich Coordinated strategy to tackle worklessness and attract investment and employment to the borough: Maximising Opportunities to tackle youth unemployment Working with employers Greenwich Council's role , Greenwich Local Labour and Business Back-to-work programmes Achievements to date and future developments Trevor Dorling, Assistant Director Employment and Skills, Greenwich Council (CONFIRMED)
15:20	Reducing Youth Unemployment with High Quality Careers Information, Advice and Guidance What level and type of targeted support, guidance and information is available to young people who become NEET? Developing alternative pathways out of NEET: multi-agency approach Outreach and inreach work: contacting and assisting ‘not knowns’ Strategies to prevent young people from becoming NEET Dr Deirdre Hughes, President, Institute of Career Guidance (CONFIRMED)
15:40	Questions and Answers Session
16:00	Chair's Summary and Conclusions
16:05	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from all sectors of the education and children services community, education practitioners, local education authorities, social inclusion officers, central government departments & bodies, teaching unions, academia, welfare groups and the voluntary sector.