LIKE many people, I left school and went straight into the world of work.
I feel lucky that I had the opportunities I did, and will always be grateful for the support I got.
But I am very aware that in recent years many young people have not been getting the same chances to reach their full potential.
That needs to change, and I’m giving a cautious welcome to early signs that things are starting to turn around.
The most recent figures show a 17 per cent reduction in the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Barrow and Furness over the past year.
The latest data shows there were 1,505 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the area, which was 2.6 per cent of the population aged between 16 and 64.
The equivalent UK claimant rate was four per cent.
But we can’t be complacent and that’s why I’m continuing to push for more to be done to reduce the barriers that are preventing people from getting into work.
From my work with the local Job Centre and Team Barrow, I’m encouraged by the investment in skills, training and apprenticeships locally, which is vital to both the growth of our local economy and to the future opportunities available to our young people.
Last week Team Barrow and Skills England hosted an event to raise awareness of the government’s new Construction Foundation Apprenticeship Programme, which is part of the wider work happening locally to make sure our young people can access the training and skills they need to open opportunities and succeed.
In the House of Commons I recently asked work and pensions minister Alison McGovern MP about some of those steps that are being taken to support young people getting into employment, education or training in our area.
Her department, and the rest of Government, is working in lock-step with BAE Systems, the nuclear sector, and other local partners to promote a variety of career pathways, including roles across supply chains.
The ministry is also working with The Bridge – BAE’s hub in Barrow’s Portland Walk – which is a collaborative space offering employment advice and support from the company along with a range of local employers and organisations to connect talent with locally-based jobs.
There are a range of organisations doing great work locally to support our young people achieve their potential including the Brathay Trust and Project John who help people meet employers and develop their talents.
I’ve also been impressed by the work carried out by Drop Zone in Barrow which runs a variety of projects, including specialised education for those with additional needs, mental health support and the transition back into education, employment and training.
Barrow and Furness has many apprenticeship opportunities, particularly in the yard, but we need to make sure they are as accessible as possible for local people.
But I won’t stop until we are doing everything possible to make sure our young people have the best possible chance in life.