worklessness

I was at a meeting today, talking to a recycling charity about the impact providing work experience has upon the long term unemployed. I think this story is a really positive example of something on the same theme. At its heart is a bloke in a suit. I sometimes struggle with the idea that the private sector can somehow make things work better than those of us in local government – purely on the basis that there is some implied superiority in working in a business. I do find this particular project inspiring though. This article (following an approach which is equally applicable to rural areas) tells us:

The man behind the scheme, Kevin McLoughlin, set up his decorating firm in 1988 when he was 30. Having left school at 15 he went from being an apprentice to the boss of a company turning over millions each year.

McLoughlin says when he was young he “couldn’t wait” to leave school and he can relate to his young apprentices. When he meets new recruits he makes it clear they are here for one reason only: to make money.

“That’s a fact of life. I cannot earn money without good people. I tell them you work for two kinds of people in life – people trying to make money like me or people part of a company trying to further their career.”

He was asked by Islington council leader, Catherine West, to set up his training camp in November last year and although sceptical at first, he says the results have been positive. Of the 116 young people taken on, 65 stayed for the five-week course and were deemed “employable”. Of these successful trainees, 55 now have jobs.

The success comes as the Local Government Association says that national schemes to tackle youth unemployment are not working.

“This is a local scheme,” McLoughin says. “It is about local people and getting local jobs with local companies.”

“We are successful because we are a business. We do not depend on this course to make money and some colleges whole business is based around funding.”