Youth Employment UK celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. See the key ways in which we’ve made an impact across the UK, from shaping policy to providing free youth employment support.
Youth Voice
Whilst the Youth Voice Census was a new piece of work for us in 2018, listening to young people was a day one mission. Over the years we have worked with incredible young people who’ve joined our Youth Ambassador Programme to shape our work and to share their voices on the issues that matter most to them.
Our Youth Ambassadors have consistently shaped our work over the last 10 years. They have co-created our skills and careers hub and helped to lead campaigns. They have also influenced our policy positions on a range of issues.
Skills & Careers Hub
Young people tell us that one of the most persistent barriers they face is that they do not feel confident in their skills or abilities. They also don’t know about the huge and exciting range of careers available to them.
This is why in 2016 we created a free skills and careers resource for young people. It’s a place where all young people from across the UK can come to at any time, whatever their education, employment or training situation, to find the help and support they need.
The launch of our Young Professional Training in 2021 provided us with the opportunity of providing young people with a structured programme to build their skills, knowledge and confidence. I could not be more proud of the reach and impact the skills and careers hub has had on young people and their next steps.
Employers
So many employers want to provide the best opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential. We recognise those employers with the Good Youth Employment Standards Badge but also support them and others to better understand young people, their barriers and challenges and to remove those barriers and become great places for young people to work.
Bringing these opportunities to life in the skills and careers hub is one of our most popular developments. Young people want to know about organisations, what they do, what kind of values they have and a place where they feel welcome. The profiles we build for our youth-friendly employers are doing just that.
For the last 10 years we have and continue to work with some of the very best brands through building employer profiles but also through their CSR and sponsorship. Those organisations are helping us to achieve our potential as an organisation and we get to work on brilliant collaborations with them too!
Policy & Research
We know that truly to make a difference we need to evidence what works and help change the system around young people.
We have spent years building that research with our knowledge, reports and evidence gathering. We continue to build vital research through the APPG for Youth Employment and our work with the Youth Employment Group.
Our research and insight is much sought after ten years on! In 2021 the Youth Voice Census Report was downloaded 10,000 times and the APPG for Youth Employment attracted key policy makers. Those colleagues no doubt considered Youth Voice Census recommendations in key post 16 education policy, and the Youth Employment Group has actively supported the government with their response to Covid-19 and its impact on youth employment.
None of this work could have been achieved without the support of a brilliant team, and the outstanding efforts of colleagues current and past.
From Youth Ambassadors to Board Members and supporters… our thanks goes out to everyone who has helped shape our work and our impact of these last 10 years.
