A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. George Bernard Shaw
A new project will offer 16 to 24-year-olds in England work experience and training to help them get a first job. Employers such as HSBC, BT, General Motors and Virgin Media are hoping to run youth traineeships under the government’s scheme. The initiative will offer help in writing a CV, interview practice, work placements of up to five months and training in English and maths. It follows complaints from business leaders about poor skills levels. The scheme is funded by the Department
According to official figures, the number of self-employed people in the UK has risen 374,000 since the start of the financial crisis, reaching 4.2 million in April this year. Kathryn Scott-Fletcher dropped out of three different colleges and, in November 2012, started claiming unemployment benefit. “The dole is pretty bleak, because there’s no reason to get up and no jobs to apply for,” she says. Although she had never thought about setting up a business, she joined the Leapfrog programme and had
Dormant bank accounts are being used to help Scottish youngsters reach their full potential. The forgotten funds have been left untouched in bank and building society accounts for more than 15 years. Now the cash has been allocated to Young Start, run by Big Lottery Fund Scotland. The organisation has awarded more than £400,000 to various projects throughout the country. Big Lottery Fund Scotland Deputy Director Neil Ritch said: “The projects will help young people develop a wide range of skills.”
It may sound obvious, but a new study shows that it’s also true: Teen employment helps keep kids out of trouble. Researchers from Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies found that in Boston, low-income teenagers with summer jobs are less prone to violence and drug and alcohol use. The center’s director hailed the study’s results, saying, “Disadvantaged kids benefit the most from job-creation programs.” Boston Mayor Thomas Menino jumped on board, tellingThe Boston Globe on Monday that summer employment gives
