The 5% Solution - a New Look At Restructuring Economic Recovery

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The 5% Solution - a New Look At Restructuring Economic Recovery. By Coleen Cloherty a director at Build Recruitment

May’s bleak announcement that the level of 16-24 year olds qualifying as NEET – Not in Education, Employment or Training – reached 1.1 million in the second quarter of 2013 is a sobering passage. Combining these statistics with imminent skill shortages within the UK workforce creates a grim prediction for the future of sustained economic recovery. To put it simply, there’s a gap in the market for trained employees that presently can’t be filled.

The 5% Club (www.5percentclub.org.uk) takes these issues head-on, addressing both the gap and youth unemployment from within the confines of industry – ultimately, the place that creates the jobs – by asking companies to commit to expanding their workforce to include 5% graduates, apprentices or sponsored students within the next five years. The initiative, founded by FTSE350 giants such as QinetiQ, Babcock International, the UK arm of global giant EADS, Atkins, MBDA and Renishaw, provides refreshed opportunities for training and growth to the 16-24 year old demographic.

It’s not just big businesses opening their doors to the 5% Club, either. As long as the company agrees to the accountability requirements, publishing progress in Annual Reports, the group welcomes companies of all sizes.

Build Recruitment is backing the scheme and has hired 4 apprentices to date, the most recent in the past week. All of our apprentices have proven valued additions to our business and aided our development as a company.

An apprenticeship scheme gives a young person the chance to learn new skills, gain confidence and experience in the business environment, backed up by a qualification. The apprentice scheme gives young people a third way to gain vital employment skills.

Apprentices graduate from the programme with a mix of qualifications and vital business experience. This targeted approach to training allows the industry the opportunity to shape future talent and create exactly the right skill set among future leaders.

I’d like to share this quote from one of our apprentices with you. Alfie Buisson, Apprentice Level 2, Build Recruitment: ‘I have recently joined Build Recruitment as an apprentice with their Facilities Management division in their London Office. I am really excited to join the company as an apprentice. I get to learn on the job, get a formal qualification and get paid for it! It's only been a few weeks but I have enjoyed joining the team who have made me feel welcome’.

As one of the 5% Club’s goals is to create a sustainable skill resource for the UK to tap in to in the future, it’s clear that businesses are making apprenticeships work, seizing the opportunity to direct the growth of future UK talent to mutual advantage.

We are committed to using this medium to hire young people and will continue to do so as long as we are able. Most, if not all, of our apprentices will go on and develop a career with Build Recruitment. One of our apprentices has already shown a great deal of promise and been given a development opportunity within the business.

For further information on the 5% Club initiative and how to apply, visit www.5percentclub.org.uk

Article written by Brian Shillibeer

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