Agenda item

Report attached.  

Councillor Claire Hickson; Cabinet Member for Communities and Economic Development and Councillor Dora Dixon – Fyle; Cabinet Member for Children's Services will be in attendance to help present the report and take questions.

6.1  Councillor Claire Hickson; Cabinet Member for Communities and Economic Development, and Councillor Dora Dixon – Fyle; Cabinet Member for Children's Services, drew the committee’s attention to the report circulated with the papers. The Cabinet Member for Children's Services observed that one of the biggest commitments made by the incoming Labour administration was the establishment of a £3 million Youth Fund, which has paid for a Southwark Education Maintenance Supplement and a training service. She reported that partly as a result of this Young people Not in Education or Employment (NEETs) are coming down. The cabinet member explained that the service is also helping families to get out of worklessness.

6.2  The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services reported that the apprenticeship scheme at the council is going well. An Economic Wellbeing Strategy went to cabinet recently and this includes measures to ensure young people get real work experience. She explained that she recently met with Southwark Youth Council and that there was an exchange of views on the importance of bridging the gap between school and employers through training and work experience.

6.3  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Economic Development reported that there is a gap between the London wide and Southwark borough unemployment rate of about 2% and this is quite a challenging gap to close. She commented that young people have a quite straight forward process to negotiate to apply to university from school, however the route to work is more complex and young people do not always know how to access apprenticeships and training, particularly if they are from a less advantaged background.  She went on to remark that there is more need for extra support particularly for the less motivated. She commented that there is less unemployment but more long-term employment.

6.4  The chair invited Southwark Youth Council (SYC) and committee members to comment. A young person referred to the report on the focus groups that SYC had recently conducted with young people. She reported that young people had identified safety as a number one priority, with decision making as the next highest priority. The chair indicated that the Health and Wellbeing Board might be a good place to raise concerns and both members and officers assured the SYC that the board is very open to hearing young people’s views.

6.5  A member commented that she is concerned about the young people who may not access SYC. The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services commented that the youth service is now focused on localities. She went on to report that there is also a youth bus that goes out to estates and other places.

6.6  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Economic Development commented that the council is trying to target long-term unemployment through Job Centre Plus. A member reported that she recently attended a roundtable discussion, but Job Centre Plus was not present. The cabinet member said that she took the members point, and went on to explain that the council cannot force Job Centre Plus to attend, however the council can increase its influence by developing better relationships.

6.7  The chair asked SYC members if they have been involved in gathering the 1000 stories for the new Children’s and Young People Plan. A young person confirmed that they had, and they are involved in going out and recording stories. She reported that SYC are emphasising the positive as well as the negative. She explained that this is because they want to prevent good services being taken away if they are working well.

6.8  A member asked the young people if they feel able to approach the job market and if the Connextions service is assisting. One young person commented that there is a high level of awareness of different types of jobs. Another young person commented at a national poll identified that getting into work was the fourth most important priority for young people. He reported that his school is orgnanising a business seminar with local providers so that young people can become more aware of the skills needed by employers and the opportunities. A young person added that while retail opportunities were often promoted she would welcome more information about wider opportunities in law, politics or banking, for example.

6.9  A young person commented that one of the most important challenges for young people is getting ready for work and being able to contribute to wider society. She commented that the bursaries provided by Southwark are welcome, and went on to suggest that the council contact some of the larger corporations and encourage them to employ Southwark young people.

6.10  Charter School’s work to arrange placements was cited as an example of good practice by a young person. He reported that they had arranged work experience at News of the World and the Bank of England. He explained that last year they had a careers fair that received feedback from the young people. This year more people are involved from the outside and he is pleased with the progress. He commented that often young people hear of the same jobs coming up and young people would like more variety.

6.11  A young person commented that one of the biggest issues is work experience. Often schools provide few or very limited options. She explained that while young people can take the initiative to arrange work experience, many young people found this difficult and they were only sometimes offered one days experience, which was not useful.

6.12  The Cabinet Member of Children’s Services explained that the council is liaising with Connextions as they are reconfiguring what they offering. The council is encouraging them to offer training and apprenticeships. She also explained that when the council procures large contracts the local authority is asking for the inclusion of apprenticeships and training opportunities. The council is also encouraging business to locate and grow in Southwark. She explained that many of these are construction firms and these will not probably attract women, but the Shard includes a Health and Beauty salon and a florist.

6.13  Graham Sutton, Principal Strategy Officer, commented that there is quite a complex picture, and while the council no longer directly influences the provision of employment support, the council does work with Southwark Collage. He explained that apprenticeships offered structured training and the council do know that uptakes are lower in London than the wider UK. Larger employers offer these, however the council would like to see smaller business offer these too. The council is also promoting the wealth of opportunities for young people.

6.14  Merril Haeusler, Deputy Director Children Services – Education, commented that education are working in partnership with businesses. The education department is also looking at learners who have disengaged and ensuring that there are sufficient providers across Southwark that are providing post 16 training.

6.15  A young person commented that often young people do not know what they want to do and of work experience is useful to help them decide. Another young person added that increased awareness of the opportunities available would be helpful, as well as more information on the type of qualifications needed to apply for jobs, for example which A levels which are needed to gain a particular university place.

6.16  A young person commented that parents often prefer the more traditional options such as becoming a lawyer or doctor, and creative studies are discourage or often only offered at BTEC. However she commented that there  is too much competition at law and it is good for young people to keep their options open.

6.17  A member raised a concern about work experience offered that did not then lead to a job and that employers are offering week placements that do not lead to a job. This can be very discouraging for a young person. Davina Bailey, the SYC youth involvement officer, commented that several employers are advertising apprenticeships that are not really providing the training necessary to qualify.

6.18  A member encouraged young people to contact her if they wanted work experience in being a local politician, and said that many local members would be willing to assist young people with work experience

6.19  The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services commented that work experience is a very important introduction to working life; it is about getting into a routine and introducing yourself to the general skills needed for working life. She explained that she worked in Boots as a young person and found the experience useful.  She commented that an apprenticeship is focused on developing particular skills needed for more specialised work, where as work experience or a part time job is good at getting work reading and acquiring general skills. She reported that the council is working with nurseries and encouraging them to train local people in childcare.

6.20  Several young people emphasised the importance of work experience. One young person said she did a placement at a media provider and realised that this was not an area that she wanted to pursue a career in. Another young person commented that her schools careers officer left last year and this has made it more difficult to access opportunities. A young person said that Boots is the wrong place to go as people need something to aspire and motivate them. She went on to comment that work experience needs to be relevant to a college application and that apprenticeships are for later.

6.21  A member agreed with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and said that work experience can give a multitude of experiences. She explained that her first work experience was in Sainsbury’s stacking shelves and this gave her an opportunity to observe the management structure, to take a disciplined approach to work and develop customer service skills. A youth worker reported that she supports young people at Boots and unfortunately they often do not have the opportunity to observe the wider businesses they are stuck in the back officer arranging stock and on leave this to go on their break. A member commented that if young people are take jobs such as these it is important that they move around different departments and she hoped the council would encourage this.

6.22   A young person responded that if you want to make an application to study law then the relevant work experience placement is needed; and that a retail experience will not count is that is not what a university is looking for. The Cabinet Member for Communities and Economic Development said that we need to think about young people who will not get to university too.

6.23  A member suggested that young people take part time jobs. A young person responded that she would not be able to take four A levels and do a job and said that she intending to get a job once she had completed her A levels.

6.24  The Cabinet Member for Children’s Service said that she recently attend an event where young people are given a chance to set up a business for a day. She went on to explain that she is working with London Youth bodies and business support organisations to support young entrepreneurs.