Minister of State
for Higher Education, David Lammy MP, will today announce the
launch of ‘Fastlaners’, an East London-based scheme to help
graduates make the transition into the world of work.
The ‘Fastlaners’ scheme, funded by the Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills (BIS) and run by the Young Foundation, is a
21st century intensive two week ‘finishing school’ that helps
graduates to help each other in navigating the jobs market. It
will provide graduates with the skills they need to develop their
ambitions and move into rewarding jobs and work placements.
‘Fastlaners’ acts as a crash course on everything from voice
training to team working and workplace etiquette. It involves
robust feedback as well as support from volunteer mentors from
different sectors and aims to build graduates’ ‘soft skills’,
skills that raise their confidence, widen their networks and
increase their awareness of the labour market. It also encourages
them to work with other graduates
Minister of State for Higher Education David Lammy said:
“I believe funding Fastlaners will make a real difference and
ensure graduates from one of the poorest areas of London get an
extra leg-up after leaving university.
“Particularly in these more challenging times, Fastlaners
provides real help for new graduates to learn the types of skills
which are so vital for the workplace.
“Fastlaners brings young people into one place working together,
learning from experienced mentors, to boost their confidence and
reassure them that they are not alone.”
Rushanara Ali, Associate Director of the Young
Foundation, said:
“The current recession is hitting young people the hardest. In
the East End of London we have one of the highest rates of
graduate unemployment in the country, yet we are bordering on
Canary Wharf and the City of London - forming some of the richest
square miles on the planet.
It is vital that the enormous talent among young graduates
doesn’t get wasted. We can’t afford to have a lost generation.
Fastlaners is one of a number of projects trying to give rapid and
intensive, high quality training and support to make sure
graduates get a foot in the door of employment. We are delighted
with the employer engagements and support from Canary Wharf Group
and I hope the financial and other sectors will join forces to
help release the potential of the talented graduates who are on
their doorsteps.”
Howard Dawber, Strategic Advisor, Canary Wharf Group plc, which
is supporting the scheme said:
"Around 21,000 East Londoners currently work at Canary
Wharf in a diverse range of jobs; however we want to do much more
to help local people, particularly young people, achieve their ambitions.
"This project is part of a new initiative to give
graduates in East London the best possible chance to access the
huge opportunities provided by the continuing success and growth
of Canary Wharf."
The Young Foundation ran a pilot scheme 18 months ago, after
which 90% of the students who attended the course were given jobs
or placements. The ‘finishing school’ will reach new graduates and
current undergraduates in East London and the Young Foundation are
currently recruiting for a course which will run from the end of
May.
The ‘Fastlaners’ scheme is a collaborative effort from a variety
of stakeholders. As well as funding from the Government, many
people are giving up time and advice to help get the project off
the ground including Queen Mary University and Edge Foundation. In
addition to this, Canary Wharf Group plc is offering office space
in which to run the scheme over a two year period.
For further information, please contact:
Lucy Bell in the BIS Press Office on 0207 215 5361 or at lucy.bell@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Rushanara Ali at the Young Foundation on 020 8709 9268 or at rali@youngfoundation.org
Notes to editors:
The Government is putting £100,000 into Fastlaners which will be
spread over a two year period. Canary Wharf Group has donated
training space for the Fastlaners project. Queen Mary University
will also be working in partnership with the Young Foundation in
delivering this project. The development phase of the Fastlaners
project was supported by the Learning Launchpad – a fund created
by the Young Foundation, working in partnership with independent
education foundation Edge, for speeding up the creation and
development of social ventures aimed at young people.Edge is an
independent education foundation. It is dedicated to raising the
stature of practical and vocational learning, so that all young
people have the opportunity to achieve their potential, and the
UK’s future workforce is equipped with the skills to be successful
in the modern economy. Edge believes that ‘learning by doing’ is
as important as academic learning, and that there are many paths
to success. www.edge.co.ukThe Young Foundation brings together
insight, innovation and entrepreneurship to meet social needs.
They have a 55 year track record of success with ventures such as
the Open University, Which?, the School for Social Entrepreneurs
and Healthline (the precursor of NHS Direct). They work across the
UK and internationally – carrying out research, influencing
policy, creating new organisations and supporting others to do the
same, often with imaginative uses of new technology. More
information about the Young Foundation can be found here:
http://www.youngfoundation.org/
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk