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Autumn/Winter 2021 43 How can we counter the challenge of youth unemployment? TALENT HAS NO LIMITS! T o tackle the issue of youth unemployment, MyKindaFuture has joined forces with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to launch the Get into Work initiative, designed to support young job seekers into employment. Using Connectr, an online mentoring platform, the scheme provides young jobseekers with the vital advice, tools and con dence they need to secure a job and succeed in it. e scheme has already worked in helping many 18 to 24-year-olds across the country secure new roles. In fact, the scheme has been so successful amongst young people that it has recently been expanded, in partnership with Sage, to support diverse entrepreneurs hoping to open their own business. e UK Government is also aware of the challenge facing young people and has a number of schemes in place to support young talent speci cally after the issue of ‘mainstream unemployment’ improves. is includes initiatives such as the Kickstart scheme which provides funding to employers to create new jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? It’s undeniable that the impact of COVID-19 on youth unemployment has been signi cant, with the end of furlough likely to compound this in the coming months. Despite this, we have been heartened to see some positive changes when it comes to addressing the issue over the last few months. Initiatives such as the Get into Work scheme with the DWP, alongside Government-funded programmes designed to support young people speci cally, provide a lifeline for talented young individuals who have su ered as a result of COVID-19. e pandemic has also been successful in hitting the reset button on the way we work forever. In many ways, this presents a positive opportunity for young people in the long run. For example, the shift to digital and automated ways of working has encouraged many employers to invest in upskilling and retraining their sta to perform new roles. A spokesperson for MyKindaFuture said: “We are incredibly proud to be involved in a Government-funded scheme aimed at retraining employees whose jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI.” Similarly, the adoption of virtual work and learning has opened up opportunities for young people all over the country who were previously limited by their location. “Whilst the road ahead remains challenging, at least in the short term, we are passionate about working with both businesses and local and national governments to support unemployed young people and harness the huge potential they have to o er. If this continues to be prioritised by all parties, businesses will bene t from the wide range of cultural and commercial advantages that diverse work forces provide,” said the company spokesperson. << Further information is available via the Get into Work initiative page.