Businesses have been urged to get behind a government-funded online career platform for young people, to ensure that the next generation of workers have the right skills to get started in their chosen careers.
The plotr careers platform, which is currently being developed by the Government, industry and social enterprises, will provide tailored information and advice for 11- to 24-year-olds based on their interests, needs, age and location.
Young people will be able to access “how-to” information and videos from peers, employers, mentors and career experts and will be matched with relevant opportunities, such as further education, apprenticeships and work placements, to help them gain the skills they need to get into jobs on their chosen career paths.
It is hoped that the tool will tackle the problem faced by many businesses in finding people with the right skills for the jobs they have available.
Companies such as McDonald’s, Universal Music, Williams F1 and Starbucks will be contributing to the service, which is set to launch later this summer, but the Government has called on other businesses to “bring their expertise to the table”.
Jez Langhorn, vice president of people at McDonald’s, explained why the company is taking part: “As a major employer of young people, we understand the importance of helping them to make the right career choices and inspiring them to achieve their true, long-term potential.
“That is why we are proud to be a start-up partner of plotr and are excited about the opportunities this will offer the workforce of tomorrow.”
Minister for civil society Nick Hurd added that the platform should help young people make more informed decisions about their careers.
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He commented: “It connects young people to opportunities and enables them to easily explore and research different career ideas. With better access to information, jobs and advice in a forum that they trust, we are giving young people the tools to make the right decisions about their future.”
