Hot topics HOT TOPICS
What is the best way to get young people into work? Are apprenticeships the way forward?
Q
There will be an extra bank holiday in June so the nation can celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Is this good or bad for business and what will you be doing as a business?
Bouncers, the controversial TV programme, shone a rather unwelcome spotlight on Newport. But is any news good news for local businesses and what should we be doing to make this into a positive?
36 THEbusiness QUARTER
Q Q
University of Wales, Newport
A
The crucial thing in dealing with youth unemployment is providing a mix of opportunities for young people and not thinking that we can have a one-size-fi ts-all approach. Apprenticeships play a key role in that while also recognising that for those who do go to university – the skills they need are changing. We need universities which offer a broader curriculum, focusing on employability and business skills, something that we are taking forward in our approach. Universities also need to offer training for people on the job, something we’ve really focused on in the last few years.
I think people will enjoy the bank holiday and probably the overall increase in leisure activity will offset any overall negative impact. I know that some businesses do fi nd it diffi cult, but there is hopefully a positive effect on consumer confi dence as well. I do believe there is a debate to be had about spreading our bank holidays more widely throughout the year, and I would also like to see St David’s Day replacing one of the existing bank holidays.
Harding Evans
A
We feel that apprenticeships are extremely benefi cial and are something the legal profession has been supporting for years although the apprenticeship is referred to as a training contract. An apprenticeship works twofold – it gives the young person hands-on training and practical experience within a specifi c profession as well as giving the employer the opportunity to develop a young person in the skills/attributes they need from an employee. It also gives young people an opportunity to experience what it is like in a workplace. The important elements for success are a well-constructed meaningful apprenticeship offered by the employer and a willingness to learn on the part of the young person.
It’s always nice for staff and employers alike to have holidays, especially when, as is the case in this example it results in a four day break. It’s good for morale and everyone’s ‘wellbeing’ as everyone seems to develop a little spring in their step (no pun intended in this case). And in this case although a very happy occasion to mark the Diamond Jubilee one that we are all very proud to be able to share; it is a mandated bank holiday whereby employers must bear the cost. Business owners, small and large, must absorb the cost of salaries without seeing any return, and accept the loss of revenue. In these trying economic times it is sometimes a bitter-sweet pill to swallow. On the Friday before we celebrate the extended bank holiday we will be celebrating internally by having a dress down day – with a payment of £1 to our chosen charity – and wearing red, white and blue to celebrate this epic event.
Bouncers could have been made about any city in Britain, or any small market town for that matter – the vast majority of people I’ve spoken to from outside Newport recognise that fact so I don’t think there will be long- term damage. What it does show is the need for us to shout from the rooftops about all the good things that go on here, something we as a university can play a strong role in.
We don’t believe any news is good news. Newport doesn’t benefi t from negative publicity like this, it painted Newport in the worst possible light and was edited for maximum effect for higher ratings. Both business owners and individuals were appalled to see their city portrayed in such away and to such a wide audience. What’s more Newport nightlife is no different to any other city in the UK. The same scenes are repeated every weekend in cities like Bristol and Cardiff. It would be much more benefi cial, surely, if more effort was taken to highlighting the successes that come out of the city, for example the exemplary work that the university’s art and media, and design programme is producing and the associated awards, not just locally but internationally, or the refurbished Udex House for the new Alacrity Foundation graduate entrepreneurship programme?
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60