Chloe Smith MP elected Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Employment

Member of Parliament for Norwich North, Chloe Smith MP, was today elected Chair of the APPG for Youth Employment. Chloe sought to bring her experience and unprecedented success as leader of the Norwich for Jobs programme to Westminster. 

 

The APPG will seek to better understand the challenges facing young people as they transition from education to employment, and report on how Government, businesses and institutions may better support young people during that time.

 

The inaugural meeting of the APPG resolved to focus on a programme of work to include:

 

• Statistical baseline and trends
• Government policy
• Local and regional innovation
• International comparisons
• Organisations to work with
• Including business and young people in the APPG's work

 

Norwich for Jobs has been the significant driver in reducing youth unemployment in the City. When it was launched at the start of January 2013, the programme was seeking to halve Norwich youth unemployment in two years.

At that time, there were around 2,000 young people, aged 18-24 claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA), registered as unemployed in the Norwich area. The aim was to reduce this to 1,000.

The project, through hard work in building strong links with employers, has beaten its original target, and now sees figures of 18-24 year olds claiming JSA drop to a record low of 720.

 

Speaking after the inaugural meeting, Chloe commented:

 

"It is a great privilege to Chair the APPG, working alongside colleagues and partners on tackling the challenges facing young people seeking employment. 

 

"My experience leading Norwich for Jobs has shown just what is possible when MPs, businesses and local groups work together to support young people.

 

"I am looking to bring that experience to bear in Westminster."