Update for October

Here is a summary of our progress for the month of October.

 

Student Opportunities

For student opportunities, my focus is currently on the new Linkedin group, for Alumni of my University of Birmingham’s Guild Musical Theatre Group. This was a student society I once belonged to, that has now become a very successful part of our university’s Guild of Students. I aim to bring 30 generations of its Alumni into one group, to form a network in support of the performing arts:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8342825

What makes this group unique, is that the students for this society, came from every school of our University. Many society members studied subjects other than drama: from science, and business; to history and politics. And yet so many of them went on to have successful careers in the performing arts industry: making the case for the performing arts as a profession accessible to all.

That is what I hope to demonstrate to fellow business people, by setting up this group on Linkedin. As university graduates, its members are intelligent, highly organised individuals, who have roles in important arts organisations. Given time and resources, they will be able to co-ordinate a very successful network for the performing arts. And when they do, their work will set an example, which other student-Alumni networks, may choose to follow.

NEETs

For disadvantaged young people, some very interesting insights have been shown to me, regarding digital badging, as a way to help their career opportunities, as discussed on the following page:

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7494975

I believe that if a 16-24 year old who is not in education nor training, received a qualification by assessment; then the awarding body could register them on key recruitment databases for that industry. This at least, would flag up talented, but disadvantaged candidates, to recruiters; giving NEET’s more of a chance, against their fully qualified student and apprentice counterparts.

There is one particular borough of London, where I think this kind of system could be used. Their borough council’s youth worker has been very receptive to the concept. However, the representative they have recommended, will be occupied for the next few weeks, and I hope to discuss the idea with them after this time.  

The Gorilla Database

For job creation opportunities: The Gorilla Database has now had over 10,000 views on Google+, making a clear case for its sustainability as a concept, and for further development:

 

https://plus.google.com/108660978572646258999/posts

 

Email: gorilla.opportunity@gmail.com

 

As contacts of mine have found, there are many graduates, whose theses, and PHD’s have not yet been developed into products and services. Likewise, there are always entrepreneurs, who are looking for new ideas. This database aims to put the two together, as an enabler for start ups.

Now there is a clear interest in the concept, we need a working prototype, to prove this the database can work.  One University’s business tutor, whom I have spoken to, has agreed that this database will be considered for their business incubator: on condition that certain things are demonstrated first. A working prototype is one of them.

 

The Blog

Nick Clapp and Howard Court have kindly agreed to become authors for our Forum’s blog. If you too, would like to write and publish articles about young people and adult’s opportunities, then please contact me on the following email, and I will send you the invite, to become a Contributor:

 

Jamesmegarry@hotmail.com

 

Summary

Progress has been made for all areas of opportunity that this Forum seeks to cover. The Gorilla Database; the possible digital badging scheme in London; and the GMTG Linkedin page, are all providing clear examples for job creation, help for disadvantaged young people’s opportunities, and student opportunities. We now need to set up the working prototype for job creation, plan how the London scheme may be put into practice; and build the GMTG group into a full scale network. These steps will take time, effort and planning. But if you know individuals, who may have the insights, resources and ideas for these projects, you are more than welcome to invite them to our Forum.

Best Regards

 

James M

 

Founder

 

 

Update for September

Over the past month, a lot has been happening.

Our Forum now has over 50 members, and the Forum blog has had over 3,000 views, which shows how our operation is growing. And there is a lot of interest, in the issues we are discussing.

Qualified Assessment

Thanks to Kevin, from DigitalMe; Sami from Youth Work, and others who responded to my invite to make a new kind of scheme, using qualified assessment to help NEETs. One London council's youth service staff have kindly been in touch about this, and I plan to begin our work over there.

I have set up a new subgroup, as a meeting room on LinkedIn, for us to discuss:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=7494975&trk=my_groups-tile-grp

It is free to join, and I welcome all youth workers, and youth service people's participation.

Student Opportunities

For student opportunities, Nick Clapp from RMP Enterprise, has kindly accepted my invitation to become a Contributor to the blog. He will write articles about student placements, and I'm sure will have some recommendations for knowledge transfer as well.

I have invited several others to become Contributors, and if you or anyone you know would like to write articles on the blog, then please send me your contact email (to my email below) and I will send you the invite to join.

I am also attempting to build up the new LinkedIn page for the Guild Musical Theatre Group, whose founder is setting up a new drama school. I know that after 30 years in existence, the members and Alumni of this group, now have the collective talent and connections, to be able to build a full scale arts network, which will serve as a clear example to performing arts students, and to student-Alumni networking in general:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8342825&trk=my_groups-tile-grp

Job Creation/Business Start Ups

On the job creation side, I have been asked about the long term sustainability of the Gorilla database.

https://plus.google.com/108660978572646258999/posts

Over 8,000 people who have viewed this database so far, which is clear evidence, of a very strong interest in the concept. But as with the qualified assessment side of our Forum, what we need now, is
a practical example, to prove that it can work.

The database has a simple design. It allows users to put their contact details and innovations on a series of lists. Entrepreneurs will then have access to both the people and the products to start a business with.

To demonstrate this, we now need a successful example of a business, started from putting this kind of information on the database. After our progress with qualified assessment, I am confident we can find the same interest from entrepreneurs, and will put the word out shortly, to gauge their interest.

If you would like to contribute to this project, you are welcome to access the link above, or contact me on these Forum pages.

Summary

All in all, a lot is being done, and I am glad we are now using specific examples to develop our ideas for opportunity. I also welcome our new members, and look forward to their articles, posts and comments. The combined insight and experience of our members, will make this a very effective, growing operation.

The Gorilla Database

A Toolkit for Entrepreneurs

Job creation, through business start ups, is an important part of this Forum. Marcus Claytor has very kindly designed a database, whose purpose is to give entrepreneurs a Toolkit to start businesses with. The database can store contact details and product/service innovations: meaning that an entrepreneur would have access to both, to start a new business.

For entrepreneurs and others who are interested, here is the link to the database:

https://plus.google.com/108660978572646258999/posts

The over 8,000 views it has had so far, is a clear indication of Gorilla's potential. We will continue to build the database, which will eventually lead to a new app for entrepreneurs.

'Boot Camps' for Young Job Seekers? Why Not Try This Instead...

 

 

In response to the Government’s ‘boot camp’ programme, to crack down on young people’s unemployment, (as per the article below), I have a suggestion to make.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jobless-young-people-to-attend-boot-camps-in-no-excuses-crackdown-on-youth-unemployment-10458357.html

There is one definite way we can all help young people’s employability: and that is, the qualified assessment of non-graduates (or 'NEET's').

 

 

 

Qualified Assessment as the Solution

Qualified assessment has been a huge success, for apprentices in all industries of the UK. The assessment of people’s skills and grading according to their ability, has given young apprentices the chance to prove themselves, and show their potential to future employers. And for those who have acquired skills already, recognition of prior learning through qualified assessment, is a perfect way to measure people’s potential; because after all, you don’t have to teach someone what they already know. And so, why not do the same for non-graduates?

Take every 16-24 year old who is not in education or training (known in the UK, as non-graduates or ‘NEETs’). Assess each candidate’s skills and abilities, and if they have a skill for which they do not yet have a grade, then assess and qualify them accordingly: as you would an apprentice. This could be for any skill; from customer service, to manual handling. But certificate qualifications in specific skills can make all the difference; as employers are looking to fit young recruits into specific niches or roles.

To the organisers of the ‘Boot Camp’ programme, I say to you; before you even send these young people on any courses, and train them for interviews, why not start by assessing them for what they already know? The UK Government’s agencies are quite capable of doing this. Because after all, they did it before.

 

 

The Leitch Report

Lord Leitch Report: Prosperity for all in the global economy in 2006, highlighted the need for more training and qualification in the UK, in response to Britain’s poor rating at the time, within the global skills economy. In Lord Leitch’s own words “we cannot be complacent and we cannot predict future economic conditions with certainty, but we do know that the demand for skills will grow inexorably.”

To meet this demand, the Government increased apprenticeships, improved access to training and skills; and most interestingly of all: back in 2006, sent qualified assessors into workplaces, to discover young people’s potential. The assessors qualifies 16-24 year olds – including non-graduates - by recognising their existing skills. I know this, because I applied for one such role. I was also lucky enough to gain a certificate qualification through assessment at work.

Qualified assessment of non-graduates in the workplace was a success then, and there is no reason why it shouldn’t be a success now: for all non-graduates whether employed or unemployed. I have been giving the idea some thought, and know one challenge we will face from the HR side. It has to do with the qualified assessors themselves.

 

The Challenge

One challenge from a legal, and HR point of view, will be redefining and renegotiating the assessors' role, to include non-graduates. Qualified assessors must operate within strict guidelines of their awarding bodies. As employees, they are recruited specifically to assess mainly the apprentices. I would say that the whole financial structure of our Government's programmes is geared to that effect. And so, to deviate from it in any way, by assessing someone not within a set scheme, would potentially go outside an assessor's contract. But there is a way round this.

Youth Engagement and other specialised youth teams, already receive funding in some form, from local or central government. If we can incorporate an assessor's role into each service, part of that funding for the youth service, can then go towards hiring the assessor, to work with the non-graduates. This is quite an important distinction to make, because an assessor must have a clearly defined role within a service, to be given the power to assess and qualify the non-graduates.

 

 According to staff from UK Youth, certain training organisations can in fact, apply for funding to assess young people in their care. But again, this depends on their applications being successful. I want us to make qualified assessment more freely available to non-graduates who are services users of youth organisations. Another way to do this, might be for an organisation to employ an assessor as a temporary contractor within their youth service. That will give the assessor the power, to qualify all of the organisation's young service users.

 

 Once we can work out the legal, financial and HR side, I think there is a way that we can integrate qualified assessors into all youth services.

 

Conclusion

I believe that qualified assessment is the single most effective way, to ensure the employment, and career development of non-graduates: both employed and unemployed. If all non-graduates in the UK were assessed and qualified for any skills they had, then many of them would be able to prove themselves to employers. If you have any opinions on this, then you are welcome to visit our open forum on the link below:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=5133737&trk=my_groups-tile-grp

And there is also a subgroup for discussions on qualified assessment of non-graduates:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=7494975

I welcome your thoughts on this.

 

Best Regards

 

James M

 

Founder

 

Let’s Build Bridges

Sources

 

Lord Leitch: Prosperity for all in the global econonomy – world class skills Final Report, 2006

 

Welcome New Members and an Update for Late July, 2015

Hello Everyone

Welcome as always to new members who have joined for late July 2015. As you can see, Let's Build Bridges is a Forum, to create opportunities for young people and for adults.

To keep it simple, this blog will tell new members all they need to know about what has been discussed.

If any young people are looking for voluntary work experience, then Lee Willows, the Founder of Young Gamblers Education Trust, has offered placements, and can be contacted on the LinkedIn page:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=5133737

For skills and qualifications for non-graduates, I have been speaking to The Princes Trust's Outreach Team, and they have a very effective 'Into' programme in place, to assess and refer young people accordingly, if you know of any non-graduates who may need their help.

Of course, I am pushing for full qualified assessment of all non-graduates, and would be interested to hear the youth workers' views about how we could do this.

On the start-ups side, we have had a new recruit for the Job Creation group. Chiara will bring new ideas and momentum to the discussions, and as I have told her, what we need now, is a practical demonstration of the Gorilla database in action.

If you are interested in starting a business, or know someone who is, then they are welcome to make use of this database:

Google+ (‘Gorilla Opportunity’ Start-Ups Database)

https://plus.google.com/108660978572646258999/posts

gorilla.opportunity@gmail.com

In the meantime, I'd like to thank all members for their efforts, welcome new ones, and long may we continue. The combined skills and expertise of the members in this group alone is making a big difference. Every idea, or discussion means a new opportunity can be created, which could make all the difference to someone's career.

I welcome your insights, and look forward to hearing. Let's make some opportunities!

Best Regards

James M

Founder

Video Blog - 'Let's Build Bridges', Update July 2015

Qualified Assessment Update, July 2015 - The Need for a More Proactive Approach

Following my article a few months ago, about qualified assessment for non-graduates, I have spoken to a number of youth organisations about this, and youth workers alike. As they have told me, there are certificate qualifications, which non-graduates can be awarded, but these are usually for general core skills (such as Teamwork). But from my background in HR, I know that - to be blunt - employers expect these core skills anyway, from all candidates who apply for a job.

What will impress the employers, are certificate qualifications for specific skill sets; for example, customer service, manual handling, etc. This will allow a candidate to fit into a specific niche that the employer wants them too. Again, it is not that non-graduates aren't given these certificate qualifications. But the problem is that the system relies on the initiative of each youth organisation or training provider.

For example, a school may recommend a group of young people, for training under a youth organization. The organisation's Outreach team may then assess the group, see where their skills lie, and accredit them a certificate qualification for a skill such as construction. And they may be introduced to contacts in the industry to find a good career. This is great for that particular group of young people: but what about the other young people in nearby schools, who could benefit just as much from the same opportunity?

That is why I think qualified assessment should be integrated proactively into every youth service, and made as freely available to non-graduates as a school education. This would ensure that every 16-24 year old service-user is given a free full assessment of his/her skills and abilities: and then directed to an assessor to be qualified for any ungraded skills. It should, in effect, be like a safety net, to make sure, that young people who did not get the chance for apprenticeships or higher education, are still able to prove themselves to future employers, by gaining certificate qualifications, that reflect their skills.

I am keen to discuss how we could make qualified assessment for young people, an integral part of all youth services.

You are welcome to visit our Forum page to discuss.

Best Regards

James M

Founder