Job Centre should push apprenticeships harder, says Perspective

Management group Perspective UK has called on the Job Centre to do more to promote apprenticeships amongst those not in education, employment or training.

The Midlands based organisation says that knowledge of apprenticeships isn't prevalent enough amongst young people and has called on more companies to do all they can to promote this opportunity to NEETS.

Figures show that the volume of NEETS is continuing to rise and with forecasts looking bleak for this year, the outlook isn't too promising.

Paul Davis, managing director of Perspective, said: "I fully appreciate that youngsters are continuing to bear the brunt of the job shortages issue in the downturn, but I do feel that more should be done by those who come face-to-face with NEETS to educate them about apprenticeships and how they can quite literally change people's lives.

"The government continues to invest, and being government ran, the Job Centre should be on the frontline of the push."

Initiatives like Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's plan to help provide subsidised work and training placements to thousands of young people will help but Davis is encouraging more to be done.

"This level of investment can't be taken lightly. To ensure that money is best spent and returns the desired ROI, it again comes down to reaching out and educating people. Apprenticeships can definitely help reduce NEET figures, but they need all the help they can get."

For more information about Perspective, visit www.perspective-uk.com or call 0121 506 9540.