Youth Friendly Employment Conference and Awards 2015

Press Release

YEUK Youth Employment Conference 2015:

Youth Employment UK awards the country’s most Youth Friendly employers

 Employers from across the UK who have committed themselves to supporting young people have been recognised at the annual Youth Friendly Employers Awards, hosted by Youth Employment UK.

The awards ceremony marked the culmination of the inaugural YEUK Youth Employment Conference, which brought together Government, business leaders, and representatives from across the charity sector to explore solutions to the challenges facing young people as they transition from school to the world of work.

YEUK specialises in putting young people at the heart of this transition and as such supports employers to implement the Youth Friendly charter to their recruitment and professional development.

This year, YEUK was proud to reward the efforts of businesses of all sizes:

The awards chosen by YEUK Ambassadors

Youth Friendly Large Employer 2015 – Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS

Youth Friendly Medium Employer 2015 – Aspire Sports Health & Fitness Ltd

Youth Friendly Small Employer 2015 – Humanutopia

The awards chosen by YEUK

Youth Ambassador Representative 2015 – Hugo Garvey

Youth Ambassador of the Year 2015 – Jack Welch

Speaking after the conference, YEUK Founder and CEO, Laura-Jane Rawlings, said:

“Whilst the picture of youth employment is improving in the UK, there are still significant challenges facing young people as they leave school and prepare for employment.

“I am delighted to formally recognise the efforts of our award winners in implementing Youth Friendly practices that make a real difference to their young employees.

“YEUK is proud to put youth voices at the heart of our work with employers, charities and the Government. Our inspirational Youth Ambassadors deliver those crucial messages to their peers, employers and right to the heart of Government; Hugo and Jack are this year’s very deserving winners of the Ambassador awards.”

Pledging to extend their Youth Friendly measures, Graham Moore of Humanutopia also commented:

“The award was unexpected and came as a genuine surprise – we are ALL delighted and so proud of what has been a real team effort”

Giving the keynote address to the Conference, Minister for Employment, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP said:

“Youth Employment UK has been a valued partner on the  ‘WE can’  youth campaign.

“Through that and your other work you have inspired many young people, and helped to equip them with the skills and experience they need and employers value.

“I’d also like to thank Laura-Jane Rawlings, founder of Youth Employment UK, for your leadership and long-standing dedication to young people.

“I know that you believe, as do I, that it is only through tackling these issues together and listening to young people that we will be able to make positive change.”

Read the full speech here.

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

For further comment, please contact Laura-Jane Rawlings on: 01536 205833

YEUK’s Youth Friendly Charter is built around YEUK’s 5 Core Principles of good youth engagement:

• Youth Voice
• Creating opportunity
• Recognising Talent
• Fair Employment
• Developing People