Experience key for Grads

2012 promises to be an exciting year for east London with the Olympic and Paralympic Games never more imminent. However, reading the headlines in the press it also promises to be a challenging one for many of the young people that we work with.

A recent report by High Fliers Research found that graduates without work experience, stand little chance of securing a job this year despite a rise in vacancies.

East London's Finest

Shortly after the London riots this summer, it emerged that a few people who had previously been viewed as upstanding figures in the community, had taken part in the destructive chaos. Perhaps, most famously, 18-year-old Olympic ambassador and promising athlete, Chelsea Ives, who is currently serving a two-year prison sentence for looting and smashing a police car.

Apprenticeships the key?

Apprenticeships are high on everyone’s agenda for getting people into work right now. The government is calling for more degree-level opportunities (not just unpaid internships) and is investing £25m to support 10,000 more advanced level apprenticeships in firms.

West meets East

It seem like all roads lead to Newham. Each time I go to Stratford it looks different. There was a real buzz of excitement as Westfield prepared to open. Every workman in East London was there putting the finishing touches to the shops and eager new employees were being picked up from the station steps by anxious store managers.

Our Olympic Values

Here at ELBA we have been out working just as hard as before in some of the areas affected by recent disturbances. Our volunteers are all reassured on their continuing safety due to the ELBA ‘escort to first meeting’ policy and our companies have inundated us with offers of help.

A challenging week

We have all been dismayed by the rioting and general civil unrest witnessed here in London and more generally across the major cities of England, none more so than everyone here at ELBA.

We need to consider our companies and the organisation’s response. It seems to us there is only one answer; we need to carry on everything we do and then do even more.