According to recent reports Ministers are increasingly concerned that the recession will lock young people out of the labour market and see a return to the youth unemployment that effected Britain in the 1980s.
In the early 80s new recruits and training programmes were often the first to go as companies tightened their belts. Some are predicting that 3 million will be out of work by the end of the year and at least 40% (1.25 million) will be under 25.
A report by economic consultancy Gavurin late last year predicted that all of London will suffer, but residents of Camden and Westminster would be amongst the worst hit by job losses. Financial services, retailing and hospitality are all shrinking in response to the credit crunch, but it takes up to three months for the effects to be felt directly on jobs. The impact of the recession is expected to be severe in boroughs, such as Westminster and Camden, which support many such businesses.
Job vacancies overall for young people do not seem to have been too badly hit (so far). A quick count of Connexions vacancies last month showed 125 went onto the LOIS system (www.lois.uk.net) across London compared to 124 in the same period last year. Perhaps it will take longer than three months for the effects of recession to hit the youth labour market in London.
The government was already committed to increasing spending on apprentices. When plans were unveiled nearly a year ago the drive was to enable the UK to compete in the “global skills race”. The Leitch review in 2006 revealed that the UK lags behind many competitors, particularly in lower and mid levels skills. An apprenticeship boost was seen as a crucial part of the strategy to improve the UKs skills. The National Apprenticeship Service was launched last year to drive programme and the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service (NAVMS) was due to begin this month (12th January).
On a visit to the Rolls Royce plant in Derby last week Gordon Brown and skills secretary, John Denham, announced that the number of apprentices in the public and private sector will increase by 35,000 at a cost of £140 million. John Denham said that to increase provision by 35,000 in a year (from 224,000 last year) would be ambitious at any time, let alone under the current circumstances.
Apprenticeships notified to Connexions across London and circulated via LOIS do seem to be holding up well so far. Opportunities from the likes of BT, Network Rail and British Gas have come through and many other large employers are saying they will start recruiting for Summer 09 soon. In the early 1980s many similar programmes were cut back or cancelled. However, if the ambitious targets for apprenticeships are to be met in London, more small and medium sized businesses, as well as more public sector opportunities, will need to come on board.
According to recent reports Ministers are increasingly concerned that the recession will lock young people out of the labour market and see a return to the youth unemployment that effected Britain in the 1980s.
In the early 80s new recruits and training programmes were often the first to go as companies tightened their belts. Some are predicting that 3 million will be out of work by the end of the year and at least 40% (1.25 million) will be under 25.
A report by economic consultancy Gavurin late last year predicted that all of London will suffer, but residents of Camden and Westminster would be amongst the worst hit by job losses. Financial services, retailing and hospitality are all shrinking in response to the credit crunch, but it takes up to three months for the effects to be felt directly on jobs. The impact of the recession is expected to be severe in boroughs, such as Westminster and Camden, which support many such businesses.
Job vacancies overall for young people do not seem to have been too badly hit (so far). A quick count of Connexions vacancies last month showed 125 went onto the LOIS system (www.lois.uk.net) across London compared to 124 in the same period last year. Perhaps it will take longer than three months for the effects of recession to hit the youth labour market in London.
The government was already committed to increasing spending on apprentices. When plans were unveiled nearly a year ago the drive was to enable the UK to compete in the “global skills race”. The Leitch review in 2006 revealed that the UK lags behind many competitors, particularly in lower and mid levels skills. An apprenticeship boost was seen as a crucial part of the strategy to improve the UKs skills. The National Apprenticeship Service was launched last year to drive programme and the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service (NAVMS) was due to begin this month (12th January).
On a visit to the Rolls Royce plant in Derby last week Gordon Brown and skills secretary, John Denham, announced that the number of apprentices in the public and private sector will increase by 35,000 at a cost of £140 million. John Denham said that to increase provision by 35,000 in a year (from 224,000 last year) would be ambitious at any time, let alone under the current circumstances.
Apprenticeships notified to Connexions across London and circulated via LOIS do seem to be holding up well so far. Opportunities from the likes of BT, Network Rail and British Gas have come through and many other large employers are saying they will start recruiting for Summer 09 soon. In the early 1980s many similar programmes were cut back or cancelled. However, if the ambitious targets for apprenticeships are to be met in London, more small and medium sized businesses, as well as more public sector opportunities, will need to come on board.