London employers warn of looming skills crisis

Young people in South-east London are struggling to find jobs – and employers across the capital are warning of a looming skills crisis, according to a new report.

More than half of young people in the area – 54 per cent – agree firms should place more emphasis on personal strengths than previous experience, says the survey.

And almost three say companies need to be more transparent in their recruitment processes, according to the figures compiled by the Prince’s Trust and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

Despite the vast majority of young people – 89 per cent – in South-east London having a CV, half said they had no idea how to find a job when they left school.

The YouGov poll of employers and young people suggests local businesses expect skills shortages to worsen, with six in 10 employers in London saying they believe it will only get harder to recruit employees with the right skills.

According to the report, Futures at Stake 2020, almost half of employers across the whole of the capital believe outdated recruitment practices are perpetuating skills shortages in their organisation.

More than half agree traditional methods of finding staff are no longer working and that they need to be more innovative.

Another big majority of businesses, 72 per cent, believe recruiting young people under the age of 25 is vital to avert a skills crisis in their sector – and 66 per cent say they focus on personal values rather than purely on exam results of possible new recruits.

Also London-wide, 42 per cent of firms say they would be interested in recruiting applicants by working with an external training provider to provide work experience and training.

The Get into Railways course, run by The Prince’s Trust and GTR, has supported more than 180 young people, and 77 per cent have moved into jobs at the company as a result.

GTR chief executive Patrick Verwer said: “This research highlights how employers need to adapt their practices to attract young people to avoid a skills crisis in their organisations.

“GTR recognises the value young people can bring to the workforce and how, with the right support and opportunities, they can get on the career ladder and be active in the economy.

“We’re proud to have helped hundreds of young people through our partnership with the Prince’s Trust to boost their confidence and be inspired to build a future for themselves.”

For more details of how the trust works with firms, schools and young people to develop the confidence and skills they need for work, or to donate funds or time, search for The Prince’s Trust online.

Pictured are young people from the Prince’s Trust’s Get into Railways course with GTR