The Good Youth Employment Symposium
6th December 2023
See last year's highlights and register your interest for 2023
Register interest for 2023 Highlights Awards
Register your interest for 2023
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Be the difference. Help your organisation stand out from the crowd.
Who should attend?
This Symposium is for HR, Talent, and Recruitment Professionals who are keen to understand how to best support, attract and retain the future talent their business needs.
What will you learn on the day?
- How best to support young people with quality opportunities from early school engagement and work experience right through to traineeship & apprenticeships.
- How to support young people with additional barriers and challenges, maximising engagement and potential from those from diverse backgrounds.
- How to be a quality employer for young people. Over half of young people don’t think employers have an inclusive approach to hiring them. See how to rebuild that trust and break the mould.
- How to create quality developmental opportunities and their benefits such as mentoring, coaching, training and learning.
- How the young people in your network can be your own champions and supporters.
Hear from leading experts
This is your opportunity to hear how we can help move young people into work as they face the current youth employment challenge in 2023 and beyond.
Activities on the day
Key sessions and panels will be led by employers who have developed advanced youth employment strategies and are removing barriers to work for young people.
Interactive sessions will focus on the 5 principles of Good Youth Employment. Come away from the day with key insights and practical tips to support your organisation’s future talent attraction, engagement and retention.
Discover best practice
Gain actionable insights for best organisational practice in implementing the 5 principles of Good Youth Employment:
- Creating opportunities
- Recognising talent
- Fair employment
- Developing young talent
- The need for youth voice
Last year's highlights
Expert panel: Barriers and challenges within the youth employment landscape
Summary
In this session we took a deep dive into the youth employment landscape. Lauren Mistry (Deputy CEO, Youth Employment UK) interviewed our panel of experts to examine some of the barriers and challenges facing young people and employers.
Panellists
- Tony O’Callaghan (Head of Skills Development, West Midlands Combined Authority)
- Ben Blackledge (Deputy Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK)
- Dan Mears (Business Development Manager, The Inspirational Learning Group)
- Annum Mahmood (Partnerships Manager, Youth Futures Foundation)
Creating Opportunities: Severn Trent
Summary
In the 2022 Youth Voice Census, 32% of young people thought anxiety was their biggest barrier to work. This principle calls on employers to think about the quality opportunities they can provide to young people. These opportunities can be offered to young people still in education in order to help them build their skills, knowledge and – importantly – career confidence. Youth opportunities can also be provided as routes into work such as traineeships, apprenticeships, graduate roles, and other forms of early career starts and paid training.
Speaker
Alysha Zimmer (New Talent Attraction & Selection Manager, Severn Trent).
Severn Trent are a Youth Friendly Employer who have developed some excellent practice across the Creating Opportunities principle, particularly with regards to their newly launched societal strategy which focuses on helping young people in communities from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Recognising Talent: Nando's
Summary
Employers who adhere to the youth friendly principle “Recognising Talent” will think about the requirements they ask of young candidates for their roles. It’s an impactful way to think differently about traditional qualification requirements and broaden skills and abilities. Employers who utilise this principle think more inclusively about their recruitment and workforce development needs.
Speaker
Tamera Campbell (Gorup Head of Social Impact and Sustainability, Nando’s)
Nando’s have developed some excellent practice across the Recognising Talent principle.
Fair Employment: BT Group
Summary
This good youth employment principle calls on employers to ensure that young people are treated fairly across opportunities, from salary and benefits to additional support. Additional support can include mentoring, financial support, and upholding good health and safety and employment practices.
Speaker
Amy Caton (Senior Manager, Digital Talent and Impact, BT Group)
Youth Friendly Employer BT Group deliver world-class practice around the Fair Employment principle.
Developing People: Haven
Summary
This good youth employment principle calls on employers to think about the support and opportunities they provide young people to help them progress professionally and personally at work. Developmental support provided can be broad as well as deep, including mentoring, volunteering, training and other development opportunities.
Speaker
Dean Giles (Talent Manager, Haven)
As part of Bourne Leisure Group, Haven is a stand-out employer in this field, with a lot to share.
Youth Voice: ABP Food Group
Summary
This good youth employment principle Youth Voice calls on employers to think about how they can listen to the needs and views of young people within their organisation. This qualitative insight and the art of organisational listening helps employers to provide opportunities for young people to proffer feedback through the recruitment and early careers process, in turn helping to shape opportunities and to support other young people. Youth Voice can result in a positive feedback loop when it comes to attracting, engaging, developing and retaining young talent.
Speaker
Sarah-Jane Fulton (HR Director, ABP Food Group)
Youth Friendly Employer ABP Food Group have a dynamic youth network which informs their best practice.
Expert panel: Reflections on the day
Good Youth Employment Award Winners 2022
Young Professional Provider of the Year 2022
Kimberley College
Youth Ambassador Special Recognition 2022
Laurence Griffin
Youth Ambassador of the Year 2022
Euan Wilcox
Celebrating 10 years of expertise
About Youth Employment UK
Youth Employment UK is an independent, not for profit social enterprise founded in 2012 to tackle youth unemployment. This year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. We make it our business to understand the barriers and challenges facing young people on their journey to work. We use that insight to support young people and those around them, including employers, educators and policy makers.
We help great brands build their profile and enable them to recruit from our extensive pool of talented, diverse young professionals.
With thanks to our 2022 supporters
