THE MAYOR’S FUND FOR LONDON

EMBARGOED 00:01, MONDAY, 28 March 2011 - The Mayor's Fund for London is launching ‘Young London Working’, a ground-breaking initiative to help get disadvantaged young people into decent jobs. Currently almost one in ten (8.9 per cent) Londoners are unemployed, while nearly a quarter (21.7 per cent) of 18-24 year olds in inner London (22,915 young people) are claiming Jobseekers Allowance1 . Young London Working will help young people from some of London’s most deprived boroughs move out of poverty and into work, increasing their life chances and aspirations. 

Young London Working is a single, central employment hub that works with employment agencies to connect young people seeking work with potential employers. All participating agencies are quality assured and support young people from school right through to employment. Access to training, mock interviews, work experience, mentoring and careers advice help improve young Londoners’ employability, while clear routes into work are made available through the recruiting companies actively involved in the programme. Outsourcing company Mitie has already pledged to offer up to 2,000 jobs to young people who come through the scheme over the next 3 years.

Chris Robinson, Chief Executive of the Mayor's Fund for London, said: “We believe that the way out of poverty is a decent job. However, the current employment landscape is confusing for both young people seeking work and for employers who want to help. Young London Working supports young people who are unsure of where to go for quality advice, guidance and training and ultimately decent jobs. 

The initiative will fill the gap between employers’ skills needs and opportunities for disadvantaged young people into work and a brighter future.” The initiative has been developed over the last 12 months by the Mayor’s Fund for London in partnership with principal sponsor Goldman Sachs International and employment and skills experts Working Links. 

Michelle Pinggera, Goldman Sachs’ Chief of Staff for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Getting young people into decent jobs is one of the greatest social challenges we face today. Young London Working will create a linked network of effective employment projects to open up clear pathways to deprived young people into employment and London businesses recruiting staff.”

Ruby McGregor-Smith, Chief Executive of outsourcing company Mitie, is on the board of Young London Working: “Mitie is recruiting 2,000 young people to help increase their prospects and help us grow our business. We feel passionate about this exciting project and recognise the benefits on all sides. Young London Working meets the urgent skills needs of employers and improves the life chances of young people who want to work to further themselves.” 

Keith Faulkner, Chairman of Working Links, said: "The Young London Working initiative connects existing providers, services and employers, as well as identifies the ways in which we can improve the skills and employment opportunities that are on offer to young people in London. It’s a groundbreaking initiative that we hope to roll out across other London boroughs, helping more young people than ever find employment." 

For more information, visit www.younglondonworking.co.uk 

1 Source: Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics, February 2011 

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For further information or interviews contact: 

Lauren Jackson
T: (0)20 7413 3048
E: lauren.jackson@hillandknowlton.com

Melanie Dias
T: (0)20 7413 3241
E: melanie.dias@hillandknowlton.com

Notes to Editor 

• The Mayor’s Fund for London is an independent, non-political charity launched in April 2009 It aims to give disadvantaged children and young people from the capital a better start in life, a better educational experience, better things to do and ultimately a better job. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is the current Patron of the Fund. 
• Young London Working: the initial reach of the initiative will be in east London. The programme aims to increase:
  - the number of young people accessing quality employment provision;
  - the number of job vacancies with training available to Young London Working providers
  - the number of young people moved into viable employment with training through the support provided by programmes within the Brokerage
• Young London Working’s services will include:
  - professional mediation training to help employment providers offer in-work support to both employers and young people
  - actively working with employers to provide meaningful work placements within the Young London Working network
  - a volunteer mentoring programme which trains employers’ existing staff to provide inwork support to new recruits
  - Young Ambassadors who have secured and progressed in employment and will encourage other young people and employers to get involved
  - an interactive forum enabling employers, providers and young people to communicate with each other and access information which will help them achieve their objectives
• Goldman Sachs: Goldman Sachs and its people are committed to helping in communities where they work and live, and in places more distant, where its ideas, people and resources can make a difference. By pioneering initiatives and supporting programs that help solve crucial social and environmental issues, it commits itself to taking philanthropic action based on discipline, innovation and a strategic approach over the long term. 
• Working Links, local employment and skills experts in London, will deliver and facilitate Young London Working. They are an organisation committed to helping people into sustainable employment and will enable the connection and continued growth of the Young London Working network of services and employers, to ensure the best support possible is on offer to help young people into work.