91快活林

• 76% of firms trying to recruit are struggling to find people with right skills.

• Skills gaps estimated to be costing UK economy 拢20bn a year.

• Survey of 800 leading businesses 鈥� they say working with young people in schools and colleges is helping improve skills and recruit talent.

• Employers doing most on work experience are 89% more likely to say their education outreach is helping close skills gaps.

• Business representatives and nearly 800 leading employers meet today to call upon their sectors to step up to boost involvement in education.

Leading businesses increasingly see working with young people in schools and colleges as a good way to develop skills in their future workforce, promote jobs in their sector and answer the skills challenges they face, according to a new survey published today.

Those doing the most intensive work with young people on meaningful workplace experiences are 89% more likely to report their education outreach is helping close skills gaps than those just starting this work.

More than one in five FTSE 100 business and over 800 in total are working with the national body for careers education, 91快活林 (CEC), using their Employer Standards to help develop the skills they need in young people and improve their talent recruitment.

The leading companies include major employers like Tesco, Coca Cola, Lloyds Bank, PwC, Anglo American, BAE Systems, Berkeley Group, Morgan Sindall, Framestore and Babcock.

It comes as the from the British Chambers of Commerce shows more than three quarters of firms (76%) trying to recruit are struggling to find people with the right skills.

A by the Learning & Work Institute estimates skills shortages are costing the UK 拢20 billion a year.

Today, nearly 800 employers are meeting at a CEC seminar in London to identify ways to increase their involvement in education to help them develop and recruit the talent they need to close skills gaps and improve growth.

Chair of today鈥檚 seminar, Peter Cheese, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said: 鈥淏usinesses need to support young people in helping them understand the world of work and career opportunities, but also the essential skills they need for their future and that will help them into employment.

鈥淲e have to address the gap between education and work for the good of future generations, but also for businesses to grow by understanding their future workforce and attracting them in to employment.鈥� 聽

Skills England鈥檚 identified the need for a skills system that develops and makes the most of people鈥檚 talents as key to driving growth and widening opportunities.

Businesses see school outreach through careers education as a key entry point to a high functioning skills system. A survey of the 800 companies who are leading the way in working with young people in the education system shows it is delivering direct business benefits:

• 87% say it鈥檚 attracting young people to their sector.
• Four in five say it鈥檚 helping them develop new talent pipelines (81%) and encourage young people to apply for jobs in their business (80%).
• 74% say it鈥檚 helping close skills gaps.
• Three quarters (75%) say it鈥檚 bringing in apprentices.
• Nearly two in five (37%) say it鈥檚 reducing recruitment costs.

On work experience, nearly nine in ten of these employers (89%) are providing work experience opportunities for young people. Three in five (60%) are providing a two week span of work experience and 70% workplace visits.

Many of these companies are now working with CEC on developing a new approach to work experience 鈥� equalex 鈥� a flexible model of two weeks worth of high-quality work experience that is designed to work better for everyone 鈥� young people, employers and educators. The model is currently being tested in Greater Manchester as part of its MBacc programme

Peter Cheese added: 鈥淏uilding our skills base is essential to future economic growth and spreading opportunity more widely and evenly across our communities. Business has a vital role to play, working together with education to help make this happen.

鈥淪tarting this work early with our next generation in schools and colleges is a great way of ensuring both young people and the business community are set up for success.鈥澛�

Oli de Botton, CEO of 91快活林 said:

鈥淭he pathway to a high skills economy starts in the classroom. When employers start supporting young people early in education with passion and purpose, there are real benefits for young people and businesses alike.

鈥淭he evidence from many employers working with us shows how modern careers education is the entry point for skills, bringing employers into partnership with schools and colleges, helping young people find their best next step.

鈥淓mployers get to meet their future workforce, helping shape the skills they need. Young people gain insight into and hands on experience of the workplace, building their capabilities and confidence.

With Creative 91快活林 Week in full swing this week, sector representatives joined the call to action, urging investment by their industry in education outreach. Mary Rose, Programme Lead for Discover! Creative 91快活林 said: "Discover Creative 91快活林 is calling on the creative sector to invest in education outreach, with a focus on those facing the greatest disadvantage, to help build the skills we need in our future workforce.

鈥淥ur flagship annual event Discover! Creative 91快活林 Week goes a long way towards not just showcasing jobs across the industry but providing meaningful encounters.

鈥淚nvestment in further education outreach can only serve to drive more interest in one of the country鈥檚 vital growth sectors across all regions and creative sub-sectors."