Top business leaders representing most of the FTSE 100 will be meeting 100 young people in London tomorrow and pledging to improve their experience when on work placements.

The meeting is part of the Work Inspiration campaign and tomorrow’s event, the Big Conversation, marks the start of a national business-led movement to get employers across the country to improve the work experience they offer.

The campaign has been developed from 18 months of research by Business in the Community (BITC), a Prince’s charity that aims to improve corporate social responsibility, which found a gap between young people’s expectations of the world of work and what businesses expected from new recruits.

BITC chairman, Sir Stuart Rose, is spearheading the campaign. He said: “Our success as a nation is dependent on the future workforce. This is the start of a national business-led movement to get employers across the country to improve the work experience they offer. The calibre of the CEOs attending is testament to how important an issue this is.”

He said the event, taking place at Old Spitalfields Market, includes young people, aged 16-19, from around the country urging business leaders to up their game when it comes to providing the first impression of work.
 
“Employers have a responsibility to make sure young people have a great first experience of work,” said 20-year-old Huda Al Bander, from the Edge Learner Forum, a network of young people aiming to change the face of education.

“Young people need to get an inspired and realistic understanding of work and be given feedback to help them build on their skills and passions.”

A number of young people have been on Work Inspiration placements this summer with companies including British Telecom (BT), McDonalds and Marks & Spencer and event organisers say the feedback from participants has been encouraging.

Work Inspiration campaign organisers say positive experiences of work can demonstrate to young people there are many paths to success, enhancing their life and career aspirations and businesses also benefit from an increase in future recruits with greater business awareness.

Caroline Waters, director, people and policy at BT said: "The Big Conversation is an excellent way to create opportunities to engage young people not just with BT but with the wider world of work. We are supporting this project because it offers us a way to help young people discover that the things they are learning really do translate into work place skills.

"A really good work experience placement can help young people get inspired about how their passions and interests will play an important role in the business of the future.”
 
For more information on the campaign visit www.workinspiration.com

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