Help for 16 and 17 Year Olds to Find Work

Nick Clegg has announced that for the first time ever, 16 and 17 year olds in the UK will be able to get help from their local jobcentre. Young people will get support uniquely tailored to them from specially trained coaches who will help them to find work and training.

Thanks to Liberal Democrats in government, the number of unemployed young people fell by 48,000 in the last three months and is down by 75,000 since 2010. The number of 16 and 17 year olds who are not in education and training (so-called "NEETs") is now at the lowest level since records began, with 94 per cent of young people either working, studying or training. But we need to do all we can to help every young person gain the skills they need to succeed in the future.

Hundreds of young people could benefit as the first part of this employment initiative launched in Lewisham, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Sheffield. Work coaches in jobcentres will give one-to-one help from CV writing, interview skills, providing access to training or job matching.

Nick Clegg said:

"As our economy gets stronger, we need to make sure that every single young person shares in the recovery and gets help to reach their potential.

"For the first time 16 and 17-year-olds who need help to find work or training will have access to jobcentres where they will get tailored support from a work coach.

"We need to do all we can to help them gain essential skills for work so they can play their part in securing Britain's long term success, building a stronger economy and fairer society for this generation and the next."

Currently, under-18s don't have a single point of contact that can help them get a job, so they don't know where to turn. Work coaches have seen great success supporting over 18s into work, which is why the Liberal Democrats want to trial this system for young people.

This radical new pilot can give young people support from jobcentre work coaches, who will use their local expertise and employer networks to help reduce young people's chances of becoming long-term unemployed. The plan will see Jobcentres join forces with local authorities, employers, charities and local community organisations to provide access to all the best opportunities for young people.