Youth Employment UK supports the recommendation of an introduction to a kitemark system for good apprentice employers, one that encourages best practice and helps young people choose the best employer for them. We would like to draw attention to the Youth Friendly Employer Award which is a kitemark, co-created by young people and employers that already exists to do just that.
The Youth Friendly Employer Award is more than just a kitemark, it provides employers of all sizes with comprehensive support to create, learn from and develop the best opportunities through their early careers engagement, work experience and employment opportunities. It supports social mobility and diversity agendas by calling on employers to remove unnecessary barriers faced by young people and ensures the creation of more quality opportunities at every stage of a young person’s education to employment journey.
The Youth Friendly Employer Award is already held by a number of national, regional and small employers and has support from key sector bodies as well as Movement to Work and WorldSkills UK.
“Movement to Work helps ensure disadvantaged young people can build meaningful careers through work placements that lead to apprenticeships and good jobs. A key challenge is ensuring young people can access employers and that employers can access the incredible talent out there. As well as driving apprenticeship standards the Youth Friendly Employer award, in tandem with the young professionals network, will ensure employers can find, and unlock the potential, in young people.” James Ashall, CEO, Movement to Work
“WorldSkills UK is passionate about ensuring that young people have the best start in work and life. A key part of this is helping employers understand what young people can add to the business and how to best support them to succeed. Youth Employment UK’s Youth Friendly Employer Award is a great way of demonstrating which employers are really ‘young people ready’ and are the best place to start a career.” Ben Blackledge, Director of Education and Skills Competitions, WorldSkills UK
The Youth Friendly Employer Award is recognised by thousands of young people; as Award Holders are connected to the network of young people using the Youth Employment UK Careers and Skills resources. Therefore supporting and connecting good quality employers and young people from across the UK.
