As youth unemployment continues to fall Piers Linney argues that we must do more to address the root of the problem.

The Dragon’s Den star and charity trustee believes work place experience plays a key role in preparing the young for the working world. With today’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) labour market figures revealing unemployment at 6.04 per cent (2.08 million people), down from 6.04 per cent from last quarter, technology entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den star Piers Linney, is calling for more to be done to create opportunities for young people and continue the momentum.

While unemployment is now the lowest since the recession, youth unemployment is still high, with the number of those not in education, employment or training (NEETS) at 13.5 per cent last month, compared to just 7.8 per cent in Germany. 817,000 of the 2.12 million seeking work in the UK are aged 16-24. Piers, who is also the co-founder and Co-CEO of cloud service provider Outsourcery, believes there is still a lack of opportunity for young people to gain first hand experience of the working world.  A recent survey by the Education and Employers Task Force found that only 15 per cent of young adults had engaged with employers at least three times, but that those who had experienced multiple contacts with employers went on to experience employment benefits later.

To counter this shortage, Piers has launched workinsight.org, a not-for-profit digital platform designed to drastically improve access to work place experience by connecting 14 – 19 year old students to employers of all sizes via their school or college. Available via web or mobile app, the platform removes any biases, conscious or unconscious that may prevent young people from obtaining a placement, such academic record, race, socio-economic background, gender, disability, sexuality and religion. Work place “insights” – short day or half-day placements – allow young people to experience multiple work environments and make more informed decisions about their working futures.  This is mutually beneficial to employers who do not require the usual resource commitment of weekly/fortnightly placements or internships, the opportunity to recruit future interns, apprentices or employees, and a low cost approach to giving something back and raising awareness of the sector.

A pilot scheme, run in partnership with two London schools and one college, is working with Microsoft UK, Thompson Reuters and Haringey Council. It has also received backing from the Minister of State for Employment, Esther McVey, who highlighted the previous fall in unemployment as a “key milestone”. The pilot is also exploring options for those not in employment, education or training in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. Piers comments: “It’s encouraging to see unemployment continue to fall, but more must be done if this trend is to be sustainable, particularly for young people, who continue to make up a high percentage of the unemployment figure.

“I believe workplace experience provides a powerful opportunity to help them find their feet in the working world, giving them invaluable experience that will benefit them throughout their careers. Today’s youth will carry tomorrow’s economy, so supporting their development should be a high priority for educators and business alike.” Sam Antill, Chief Executive of workinsight.org, added: “Too many young people are still losing out on much-needed opportunities to experience the world of work. Work place experience provides the catalyst that many of our students, or those not in employment, education or training, need to make those all-important life changing decisions about their qualification route and career choices.”