'It's tough out there': Young people on the Budget

Cheyenne Dawson, 20, said it was "tough out there" for people trying to find work

It is tough out there for anyone who is trying to find a job, one young worker has said ahead of the chancellor's Budget.

Cheyenne Dawson, 20, had been applying for jobs after college, but became demoralised after receiving rejection emails pointing out her lack of experience.

Ms Dawson, from Walsall, then joined the Fairer Futures programme - a 12 week project in Mid-counties Co-operative supermarkets that enables trainees to access personalised support, one-to-one mentoring and work experience.

Ahead of the Budget on Wednesday, its founder called on the government to increase investment in skills to bring down youth unemployment.

The programme is for 18 to 24 year-olds in partnership with social enterprise food retailer, Miss Macaroon, which has given hundreds of young people training opportunities in Walsall.

Thirty-two trainees have found work after finishing the scheme, and almost two thirds of them have never had a paid job before.

“Youth unemployment in the West Midlands is still really high," said Miss Macaroon co-founder Rosie Ganday.

Rosie Ganday, who has co-created a jobs scheme for young people, said youth unemployment in the West Midlands was "still really high"

"Social enterprises like ourselves really do need that support and investment which can bring commercial partners on board and allow us to scale up the work we do," she said.

“The mayor, Richard Parker, has committed to creating 20,000 new training and job placements for young people, we need funding to enable that to continue."

She added that the funding needed to be locally focused.

"A young person in Walsall will need something different to a person living in Birmingham and Coventry," she said.

About one in 10 18-24-year-olds in Walsall are currently claiming out-of-work benefits, the highest rate in three years

“The biggest things I’ve gained so far... is improving my communication and especially my confidence," said Ms Dawson.

"I was nervous when I started in the store, but feel excited every day.

“It’s tough out there. You’ve only got to go on TikTok and see videos of people who’ve applied for multiple jobs and keep getting turned down.”

Approximately one in 10 18-to-24-year-olds in Walsall are currently claiming out-of-work benefits - the highest rate since October 2021 according to the Office for National Statistics.

The ‘Your Co-op’ store in Walsall town centre has offered full time employment to three trainees so far.

Azhar Hussain, 25, said he would like to own his own business

Azhar Hussain, 25, said he learned basic retail skills in his father’s restaurant and with support, hopes to become an industry leader.

“I was studying at college before my journey here. It’s been incredible, I’ve learned how to grow in confidence and come out of my comfort zone."

“I’d like my own business, like another Co-op or clothing brand shop, that’s what I’m focused on.”

Ahead of the Budget, there’s been a frenzy of speculation around a possible increase to employers’ National Insurance (NI) contributions, which business owners have argued will make it harder to hire staff and create jobs.

But Labour has pledged to introduce a "youth guarantee" to offer more apprenticeships, alongside a new national jobs and careers service, “to prevent young people becoming excluded from the world of work at a young age".

Passion for baking

Like Ms Ganday, Liz Kendall, secretary of state for work and pensions, wants a more localised approach to upskill those out of work.

But the Conservative party said the government must "wake up" to the "huge cost" reforms will cost the taxpayer.

Ms Ginday set up Miss Macaroon in 2011 armed with just £500 - a passion for baking – and around 230 people have since found work through its training schemes which have branched out into retail and soon, the construction sector.

She said new grant funding and tax relief would encourage and enable businesses to work closely with social enterprises to scale up efforts to cut youth unemployment levels.

“The region has a rich skills economy in manufacturing, in the tech space as well - but for young people we hear all about a mental health tsunami coming, so providing funding for opportunities is one thing that’s needed, it’s really important,” she said.