Global legal business, DWF, along with over 200 organisations across the UK, has signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling on the Government to publicly commit to a new Opportunity Guarantee.
The UK is experiencing the biggest economic crisis in 300 years, and on Tuesday 16th June latest figures show the highest rate of unemployment in over 100 years.
The new Opportunity Guarantee scheme, backed by some of the UK’s biggest employers, would help to kick start the UK’s economic recovery by investing in jobs of the future, helping people access the jobs market, and providing opportunities for young people.
The open letter has been signed by cross industry partners - including The Prince’s Trust, Heathrow Airport, Asda, universities and charities
Together, over 200 voices called on Government to invest in a new Opportunity Guarantee that:
- Promotes job creation by investing in the jobs that we need for the future
- Doubles the capacity in services that help people into jobs, with greatest support for those facing disadvantage
- Provides an education place, apprenticeship, or job for every young person
Ty Jones, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Engagement at DWF said: "As a collective force for good in society, business is quite rightly focused on creating a skilled & inclusive workforce today and for the future and must help continue to help build and sustain thriving communities in which we live and work. That's why we are calling on the government for an opportunity guarantee, to ensure that everyone unemployed will have the help they need to get into work. This means investment in employment support, education and training."
Commenting on the open letter, Lord Bob Kerslake said: “The message to Government is clear – with the Jobs retention Scheme winding up, we must invest in an Opportunities Guarantee. We need to create opportunities for people to skill up, and have a guaranteed role in our economic recovery, and we must put these plans in place now.”
