As organisations continue to face rapidly changing environments, it’s more important than ever that they are innovative and agile. For innovation to thrive, diversity is key.
Fostering new ideas and problem-solving approaches that lead to better outcomes works particularly well when people share perspectives from varied and diverse backgrounds.
Think of your organisation like your gut, having a diverse microbiome is essential to being healthy. And eating the same three foods isn’t going to support that. After all, ‘insanity is looking in the same place and expecting to find something different’.
Yet time and time again young people, those Gen Zers who are brimming with fresh ideas and different attitudes to work and technology, are overlooked for entry level roles due to ‘lack of experience’. This frustrating response is often all the feedback that recruiters provide, forcing young people simply to accept the fact with no real tangible steps for improvement.
Right now, in 2024 the unemployment rate in the UK is at around 4.2%. But for 16–24-year-olds that goes up to 14%, a gap which disturbingly is growing each year rather than improving. For Black and Asian young people, unemployment rates rocket up to around 27%.
It goes without saying that the problems around social and economic barriers need addressing. And with numbers this high, it seems organisations are missing a real trick by not tapping into and nurturing this diverse pool of talent.
So how can companies make a difference? How can they inspire and capture young people’s attention so that together they can evolve and grow?
Mentorship
At the crux of it, young people simply need to be given the opportunity and space to learn and grow.
A great way to do this is to offer mentorship through internships or apprenticeships. Young people have a lot to navigate, and providing guidance to individuals is an invaluable way to build a connection and capture their attention early on in their career.
By investing in people who have aspiration and motivation, and by giving them the tools and confidence to further develop, employers can provide invaluable support in building the foundations so that young people can bring new innovative ideas into the organisation.
Internships and apprenticeships are excellent options. And there are smaller ways that every employer can offer that mentorship and support too, including:
- Being transparent. This means when writing a job description, it’s very clear if there’s a requirement for specific experience. Clear intentions and clear communication.
Giving feedback after interviews. Offer tangible actions people can take away and implement. Help people better themselves, give them the confidence to improve.
Hear from the experts
In episode 6 of Acteon’s Speak to the Human podcast, host Sarah Abramson, is joined by Jasmine Rose and Tee Moyo from Apprentice Nation, to discuss the opportunities and barriers for young people entering employment and how they can be supported to overcome challenges. Listen to the episode here.
