Job Centre Should Push Apprenticeships Harder, Says Perspective

As recent reports show that one in five 16 to 24 year olds are classed as ‘NEET’ – not in education, employment or training – Perspective, the Midland- based pioneers of student tracking systems, says that knowledge of the benefits of apprenticeships isn’t prevalent enough amongst youngsters and that the Job Centre should do all they can to educate ‘NEETs’.

The new figures show the volume of NEETs has hit record heights as 1.2 million people are now without education, employment or training, up by 137,000, over 12 per cent, in the third quarter of 2011, compared with the same period a year earlier.

Paul Davis, managing director of student management system provider Perspective, commented: “I fully appreciate youngsters are continuing to bear the brunt of the job shortages issue in the downturn, but, I do feel more should be done by those who come face-to-face with ‘NEET’s’ to educate them about apprenticeships and how they can quite literally change people’s lives. The government continues to invest, and being government ran, the Job Centre should be on the frontline of the push”.

Indeed, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has stated in a recent interview that a new £1bn plan to provide subsidised work and training placements will "provide hope" to thousands of young people. The youth contract scheme will give employers subsidies worth £2,275 to take on 160,000 18-to 24-year-olds, for six months, over three years. As a result, up to 410,000 work and training placements will be created in England, Wales and Scotland by giving employers wage incentives equivalent to half of the youth national minimum wage.

Paul continued: “This level of investment can’t be taken lightly. To ensure that the money is best spent and returns the desired ROI, it again comes down to reaching out and educating people. Apprenticeships can definitely help reduce NEET figures, but they need all the help they can get.”

For more information about Perspective’s learning management software, please visit www.perspective-uk.com or call 0121 506 9540.