How to support youth to boost their career prospects

In this week’s guest column, Jack Parsons, CEO of The Youth Group, also known as the UK’s Chief Youth Officer, outlines the importance of engaging and supporting British youth to help boost their career prospects, despite the Covid-19 challenges. 

The end may be in sight, but the pandemic is far from a distant memory. Now more than ever, it’s essential that young people get the help and support they need in work. Despite the vaccine rollout, the economic toll on young people created by this crisis is stepping up a gear. 

I know from people in my community, #MyTribe, that young people are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety as a result of higher costs of living, insecure work, and an increasingly competitive and confusing job market. This is also increasing feelings of loneliness and isolation, and having a negative effect on young people’s mental health. 

This was the situation before Covid struck, but the pandemic has certainly not helped. The current crisis has a compound effect on young people. The immediate health crisis, the subsequent lack of work and opportunity due to the lockdown, and the resulting mental health problems created as a result of not being able to get out and see people.

COVID-19 IMPACT ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Now, as the public health emergency is less severe and the nation is coming out of lockdown, the aftershocks of the pandemic still affect the economy, job market and young people’s mental wellbeing. That’s why it’s critical that as we return to a sense of normalcy; and we do not leave young people behind. 

I had the privilege of speaking with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak several times before and after the release of the budget; where I was able to speak with him about the steps being taken to help young people. We covered everything from jobs and the kickstart scheme, to funding for young adult mental health services. It was critical for me that the government was playing a part to support and engage young people.

After speaking with Rishi Sunak, I felt there was a lot to be optimistic about. The Chancellor introduced the Help to Grow scheme and Start Up loans for small businesses; and Flexi-Apprenticeships for young people to get apprenticeships while working for multiple businesses. He has also extended, as well as expanded, the Kickstart scheme, which gives young people a much needed boost to their careers. 

YOUTH WORK & WELLBEING INITIATIVES 

The Chancellor also spoke to me about increasing mental health funding by £2bn over the next few years, which aims to help over 350 million young people across the country. Mental health is a topic very personal to me and it’s something I’ve worked hard to be able to help other young people with; so I’m pleased that the budget makes headway in this most important of areas. 

Of course, it isn’t perfect in many eyes; but it’s a start. There are shortfalls, and places where more help is needed to support young people in work. I know a lot of entrepreneurs feel excluded from government support because their business is too new, or because of how it’s set up. In my view, it’s always worth the government’s time to do more to reach young people, and I hope to see them continue to find new ways to support more young people who could use a leg up, especially right now. 

This said, it’s easy to demand more of the government, but I know that what’s going to make a big difference in getting young people the support they need will come from businesses. I’m a big believer that enterprise has an enormous responsibility for social change, and for supporting, engaging and developing young people. 

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY 

A lot of young people will have faced unemployment, or missed out on a year’s worth of opportunity to enhance and develop their skills in work. Corporates in enterprise need to step up and give young people a chance, working with government through initiatives like the Kickstart scheme; as well as more generally creating a youth-friendly work environment, from the hiring process to the boardroom.

Companies also have a big responsibility when it comes to mental health. Whether they are returning to work, or finding themselves in new careers, young people will benefit from the support. Businesses have the power to change workplace culture and environments. They can provide new opportunities to help young people and finance incredible initiatives; as well as support charity endeavours to make a real impact. 

Young people don’t just need support to get through the pandemic and return to normal. Normal wasn’t that great for young people in work; we have to strive to do better. None of this is any one person’s responsibility. It’s not all on business, and it’s not all on government. We do this together. Check out my full discussion with the Chancellor in the video below.

The Youth Group’s Mentor Me project aims to deliver 100,000 mentoring sessions this year, to help improve the career prospects for young people aged between 18 and 30 in the UK. Click here to read more.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Jack Parsons is an award-winning young entrepreneur, public speaker and subject expert on youth. He is also known as the UK’s Chief Youth Officer. Parsons is currently the CEO of The Youth Group which is building the world’s largest most connected marketplace and community for young people with one aim; to help improve the odds for young people across the world to achieve their full potential in work. On top of running The Youth Group, Parsons advises a number of organisations and figure heads. He has won several awards over the last three years. They include Young Digital Leader Of The Year; The 100 Faces of a Vibrant Economy; Most Connected Young Entrepreneur; 50 Top kindest leaders; and Top 10 UK Young Entrepreneurs to Watch.