Rachael Fidler, of training provider HTP.
WIGHT LIVINGEACH week, its seems the list of economic casualties grows longer on the Island, as the global downturn is reflected in the empty shops and growing job queues.
With fears the UK is slipping back into recession and familiar high street names disappearing on a weekly basis, the news last week the number of Island jobseekers had risen yet again came as a further blow.
The desperate need to tackle the IWs growing unemployment problems was underlined when it was revealed the number of Islanders claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) had gone up from 3,439 to 3,672.
It was the seventh month in a row the number of claimants had risen and the highest since February last year.
The figures also showed the IW’s seasonal employment trends, with around a thousand more claimants in December than in June.
What was also striking was how the Island has consistently lagged behind the South East for employment throughout the year and the rest of the country, during the off-season, for at least the past five years.
Last week, on a visit to meet IW business leaders, business minister Mark Prisk said he sympathised with the disadvantages faced by the Island because of its geography and promised to look at the way statistics used by the government were compiled to better reflect the situation.
He was optimistic the Island would benefit from the replacement of the South East England Development Agency by the Solent LEP, made up of businesses and councils, including the IW.
But Ken Moon, of the Federation of Small Businesses, Wessex region, said the prospects for small firms in the region were gloomy.
"Unemployment figures are still rising and do not look set to improve.
"We know from our members, small firms are looking to shed staff in the first three months of 2012," he said.
He called for the government to cut red tape for small businesses, introduce exemptions to flexible working and delay changes to parental leave.
"It is simple steps like these that will help encourage small businesses to start taking on staff and tackling unemployment once and for all," he said.
The IW Council last week announced it hoped to target youth unemployment with a £300,000 scheme to develop pre-apprenticeships.
The scheme, supported by Island training providers, allows young people to take up placements at Island companies to develop skills and experience. The council also provides cash to help meet travel, food and other expenses.
Deputy director for economy, tourism and leisure, John Metcalfe, said: "We hope the pre-apprenticeships will give young people confidence when they go for a job, showing employers they can make a commitment to a job, they are motivated and they have experience."
Companies taking part are vetted to ensure they have a programme to help the young person develop useful skills and experience and there is a real chance of work or an apprenticeship at the end of it.
The council has also introduced two schemes — Get Ready to Work, developing things like CV advice and interview skills, and Real Opportunities Now, to help young people develop skills.
Among companies backing pre-apprenticeships is training provider HTP.
Managing director Rachael Fidler said the situation had not been helped by the government’s controversial decision to axe the educational maintenance allowance (EMA), paid to young people to help meet the costs of staying in education or training.
"It makes it very difficult to engage or re-engage with young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs)," she said.
She called for more innovation in the way employers, the council, government and training providers reached out to young people.
"The traditional way of approaching young people through the printed media has changed. The big issue facing everyone on the Island is how we attract young people into the opportunities that are out there," she said.
"We need to have something like an apprentice shop on the high street, a focus for young people. We need to be innovative. There are opportunities for young people but we need to get the message to them.
"You might say £2.60 an hour for an apprentice is not a lot of money but what also has to be remembered is you are also being trained and getting a qualification for free."
Marcus Hesketh, 20, of Ryde, has been claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance since last August, when he completed training with HTP.
He hopes to start a retail apprenticeship soon, through Smart Training and Recruitment, with Spar. He said there were some opportunities but there needed to be support for people to help them make the most of them.
While unemployed, he has carried out hours of voluntary work to improve his chances of finding paid work.
"I’ve not just been sitting around doing nothing. It’s important to decide what you want to do but then there needs to be support to help you get there," said Marcus.
Mark Cox, a training consultant working with Spectrum Housing and The Foyer, said there was a lack of opportunities for young people on the Island.
"People have got the qualifications and done everything they can but they are coming into a climate where it is very tough. Finding opportunities to use those skills and qualifications is hard," he said.
It is not just young people who need help, with the statistics also revealing the number of over-50s claiming JSA rising from 500 to 690, since June.
Margaret Smith, of Shanklin, has been unemployed for more than a year.
"I do not claim benefits, I have supported myself, which means I am one of the hidden unemployed and I think there are more people in the same position.
"The last two jobs I have been for, there were more than 200 applicants.
"I know there are a lot of young people struggling to find work but there are older people too and it seems we are forgotten," she said.
There were also problems about prejudice, said Mrs Smith, who has worked in administration and the care industry.
"I went for one job in an office and they said they thought I wouldn’t be able to work as quickly as a young person.
"I’m only in my early 50s and the government keeps telling us we are all going to be working longer.
"But I am starting to think that I might never work again."
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk