Youth support is vital to avoid skills crisis says new Prince’s Trust and GTR report

Recruitment of young people is vital to avert a skills crisis across the UK, according to new research from The Prince’s Trust and Govia Thameslink Railway released today.

The report shows that almost half (47%) of the 1,004 surveyed employers agree there is currently a skills shortage across the UK, and three quarters (73%) said the recruitment of young people is vital or they risk facing a skills crisis across their sectors.

The ‘Futures at Stake 2020’ report states that a 'crisis is looming' with 59% of employers saying they struggle to recruit people with the skills their organisations need.

GTR is already helping to tackle this skills gap in the transport industry with the Get into Railways programme, run in partnership with The Prince’s Trust; 77% of course participants have moved into permanent jobs at the company as a result.

Patrick Verwer, Chief Executive of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said: “We’re proud to have helped more than 180 young people struggling to find work through our partnership with The Prince’s Trust. The course gives them experience in business, builds their confidence, and inspires them to build a future for themselves. We have diversified our recruitment approach to give more young people better access to jobs and a career in rail.”

In September last year the organisations celebrated five years of partnership and the rail operator committed to deliver Get into Railways courses for the next two years (read former press release here)

The report also surveyed more than 500 teachers, 70% of which warned that young people are leaving school without the basic skills they need for life and work.

To read the full Futures at Stake 2020 report, go to: http://bit.ly/308yR2x

Dame Martina Milburn, Group Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust said: “Young people are key to solving current skills shortages and avoiding a future skills crisis. However, some employers use recruitment processes that make it hard for them to fill vacancies, as well as making it hard for young people to get their first job. It is vital that employers start thinking about recruitment differently.”

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Notes to editors

The report is based on the findings of three separate on-line surveys conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Prince's Trust:

• A sample of 2,252 16-30 year olds took part  between 28 August and 17 September 2019.
• A sample of 1,004 employers took part between 28 August and 3 September 2019.
• A sample of 511 teachers took part between 28 August and 16 September 2019.

The figures have been weighted and are representative of all young people, teachers and employers in the UK.

About The Prince’s Trust

Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps young people to develop the confidence and skills they need to realise their ambitions, so that they can live, learn and earn. Founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

Many of the young people helped by The Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law. The programmes offered by the charity give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.

The Trust has helped over 950,000 young people to date and supports over 100 more each day.

Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.

Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.