Leading UK recruitment and training company Acorn Group has been commended for the role it plays in helping to get young people into work.
The Welsh-headquartered business was singled out for praise by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), which described Acorn as a “shining example of how dedicated recruiters can make a real difference to the lives of young people.”
Acorn has signed up to the REC Youth Employment Charter to help build better bridges between the recruitment industry, education and employers to prepare young people for the world of work.
With more than one in five people aged 16-24 currently out of work in Wales, the Youth Employment Charter commits the recruitment industry to playing an active role in helping to prepare future generations of workers.
The Charter is aimed at driving increased co-operation with schools and charities, enabling recruitment and employment experts to share their expertise directly with young people – including developing links with schools, promoting apprenticeships and internships and providing opportunities for young jobseekers to work with recruitment agencies.
It also aims to harness the knowledge and expertise of recruitment professionals within Acorn and other recruitment agencies who are in a unique position to raise awareness and build the necessary bridges into the world of work.
Tom Hadley, REC Director of Policy and Professional Services, said: “Youth unemployment is one of the biggest issues this country faces. Agencies like Acorn, signatories of the REC Youth Employment Charter, are playing an active role in helping young jobseekers. Recruiters, as experts in their local labour markets, are perfectly placed to reach out to the next generation of workers and reduce local youth employment.
“The work of Acorn is a shining example of how dedicated recruiters can make a real difference to the lives of young people. Their work on apprenticeships and partnerships with organisations such as Careers Wales to develop a network of employers looking for keen, motivated people who want the opportunity to learn and contribute to the workplace, is leading the way in this field.”
Acorn’s Group Managing Director, Matt Southall, said: “As a business we are committed to helping tackle the problems of youth unemployment and play an active role in helping young jobseekers. We conduct our business in order to have a positive impact on our people, the communities we work in and the wider environment.
“As part of the company’s backing for the Youth Employment Charter, Acorn has produced a six-point Q & A case study targeted at employers and people in the education sector, offering advice and support.”
Established in 1992, the Acorn Group has 35 branches across Wales, the West Country, the North West of England, London and the South East, placing up to 5,000 people into around 850 different client companies every week and securing 1,400 permanent placements each year.
In 2012 Acorn celebrates 20 years as one of the leading recruitment and training agencies in the UK and aims to mark the anniversary by raising £20,000 for 20 different charities across England and Wales.