Strength in numbers

Joblessness and under employment can be lonely endeavours. Damaged confidence and ambition are cited as two effects of unemployment on young people, alongside the obvious lightness of pocket. A sense that everyone but you has a job increases with every rejection letter that lands on the doormat.

But with nearly one in five 18-25 year olds in the UK unemployed, with thousands more under employed, this notion is misplaced. Sufficient experience and specialist skills we may lack, but what we do have is numbers. Compared to other demographic groups, we also have an abundance of time.

Thousands of skilled young people + time on their hands = opportunity.

This can explain the growing popularity and importance of collaborative networks and work initiatives amongst young people. A handful of organisations are bringing young people together to create their own enterprise, helping them to develop valuable skills and experience. We introduce you to three of them here:

The Ideastap – www.ideastap.com

An online community for young people that enables you to maintain a portfolio of work and check out suitable collaborators. It also offers work opportunities and funding across the arts.

Open Society – www.open-society.co.uk

A collective of project teams consisting of 18-25 year olds collaborating to create and deliver independent projects. By sharing skills, resources and contacts, Open Society members create their own enterprise, developing their skills and experience in the process.

Enterprise UK – www.enterpriseuk.org

An online platform designed to give people the confidence, skills and ambition to be enterprising. A social networking function allows you to connect with other young entrepreneurs, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of advice.

With so many young people looking for jobs or to develop their experience, working together makes sense. Groups like the Ideastap, Open Society and Enterprise UK that are helping people to do this are creating enterprise where there previously was none. They are examples of how a change of approach can create opportunity in the problem of youth under employment.

Open Society and Enterprise UK will be available to answer your questions from 2-4pm on Saturday 12th June at www.slumpwise.co.uk. The Ideastap was unable to participate, but find out more about the work they do at: www.ideastap.com/About-IdeasTap

To ensure your question is answered in the allocated time, email it in advance to: tom@open-society.co.uk.