60% of SME bosses say young people’s skills are found wanting

Nearly two out of three SME employers in the North West – compared to 50% nationally – think young people do not have the skills needed for entry level jobs.

According to new research by the EY Foundation and the School to Work Coalition.

Core non-technical skills include working as part of a team; problem-solving; resilience; the ability to communicate; organisational skills; and punctuality.

Coupled with these findings, 56% of young people across the UK said they could not get the experience of work they need to get the job they want – according to an additional survey by the EY Foundation, in collaboration with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

The full findings of the research into what SMEs (which make up over 99% of UK businesses) and young people think about the jobs market, are being unveiled this morning at the launch of the ‘School to Work Campaign’ at Manchester Town Hall.

The campaign, which is being led by a national coalition of employers, young people, education, government and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector representatives, is calling for an accredited ‘School to Work Framework’.

Twenty-two-year-old Duncan McCombe from Stockport, is playing a key role in the coalition as co-chair of the CBI-backed National Youth Panel, and will be among the speakers at the launch.

McCombe said: “Young people, including me, are funnelled through the exam factories we call schools.

“We’re led down a path, usually university, and as soon as we step off the path, suddenly we’re on our own with no skills to succeed. That is why the School to Work Framework is so badly needed to equip young people with the skills they need for the future.”

Manchester-based charity, RECLAIM, which helps working class young people to fulfil their leadership potential, has also joined the coalition.

The School to Work Framework would be included in the national curriculum for all nine to 18 year olds so that every young person in the UK, regardless of background, would learn essential core workplace skills in the classroom and during work experience.

In addition, they would learn about the diversity of jobs, the requirements and ways to get them as well as local opportunities.

EY’s North West senior partner, Bob Ward, will also be speaking at the launch, stressing the importance of ensuring young people have the skills employers need if business is to thrive in the region.

“While many employers are investing heavily in work experience, our research shows that around 40% of employers do not have a recruitment path for young people at a time when there’s growing concern about finding skilled staff,” said Ward.

“We need to build stronger links between employers, young people, schools and colleges and that has to start early so that young people are excited about the opportunities and have the skills to access them.”

The Framework will be piloted next year and will undergo regular evaluation as it is developed, to make sure it addresses the concerns of young people, employers, schools and colleges.

Maryanne Matthews, chief executive of the EY Foundation, who is supporting the campaign said: “Many schools, colleges, and employers are already working hard to help young people realise their potential. But too many are still missing out, through no fault of their own.

“We know from our programmes that disadvantaged young people in particular miss out on support to develop the skills, knowledge and meaningful work experience necessary to get the jobs they want.

“An accredited UK wide School to Work Framework, which is part of the curriculum, would mean every young person regardless of their background would get a real chance to get the skills they need for the jobs they want and employers would have a source of skilled workers.”

The White Paper, ‘A Framework for Success: Connecting Young People with Employers from School to Work’ reveals that more than a third (36%) of employers do not think young people are good at communicating, while 38% percent said young people were not resilient.

The survey also found that two out of three SMEs across the UK were in favour of core employability skills being part of the curriculum.