With more varied opportunities, young people will close the skills gap

Last week saw the Government publish another set of NEET figures nudging the one million mark. In the same week, ‘Lost in Transition’, a report by the Work Foundation, argued that a lack of soft skills such as communication, team work and customer service, are preventing young people from securing work in the growing service sector.

Rather than shrugging our shoulders at what seems like a hopeless situation, now is the time to be looking for more creative solutions to developing those skills and experiences in young people that need them most.

vInspired research with the Institute for Employment Studies put a spotlight on the role of volunteering in supporting transitions. The research looked at volunteers across the NEET spectrum - from those that left school with no qualifications, to graduates.

The research showed that for lower-skilled young people, volunteering improved interpersonal and soft skills, as well as personal attributes like commitment, motivation and enthusiasm. For more highly skilled young people, volunteering offered valuable experience and a chance to try new things in a supportive environment.

Volunteering in its many guises is one way that voluntary organisations help young people lay the foundations for paid employment.

For example, Team v equips potential young leaders with both the soft and hard skills that can support the transition to work. As one young leader on our Team v programme told us:

“Wow I've just been offered amazing job, and was partially to do with stuff done with v[Inspired] so I’ve got to say a massive thanks for the opportunity that Team v was!!!”

With more varied, creative opportunities, young people will close the skills gap to successfully compete in the ever changing labour market.

Team v gives 18 – 25 year olds the chance to change the world one campaign at a time, whilst gaining valuable skills. Recruitment is now open.