NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) is an acronym we hoped was gone for good, but for people aged 18-to-25 years old, the disruption during the coronavirus will require a coherent forward plan with all stakeholders involved including; Government, education and employers, dedicated to supporting this generation into meaningful employment, training and development. Under-25s experienced the greatest and fasted rise in unemployment during lockdown, at the same time as graduate and entry-level roles depleted, leading to unprecedented levels of applications. Furthermore, half of under 25s were furloughed, with no certainty of a return and one-third of that age group is now on Universal Credit. 

But as the pandemic retreats and we look towards a brighter future, this cohort and its digital native credentials represent the future talent base for employers across sectors. Businesses must play a vital part in creating a fair society and a strong and productive economy and, in doing so, will attract and support the skills and talent they will need in the future. With 750,000 young people estimated to be out of work and a need for three million skilled people in the next five years in the tech sector alone, now is the time to take a fresh new look at the role of apprenticeships, graduate schemes and the Government’s Kickstart initiative, with the dual purpose of protecting this generation against long-term unemployment and closing the ever-growing skills gap that threatens the collective economy’s global competitiveness.

Lead Kinetics

Following job market disruption as a result of Covid, digital marketing agency Lead Kinetics quickly recognised the need to put a coherent, but equally agile, plan in place to breathe new life into graduates' careers as businesses aim to capitalise on their digital native credentials. This is with a view to combating an accelerated rise in unemployment among the under 25 age bracket as job opportunities became diminished and applications rose while the pandemic increased its global grip.

The proof of the damage done is clear, following recent media reports around how students feel let down by universities after the effects of Covid. And, in recent times, two-thirds of graduates have had job applications paused or withdrawn as a result of the global pandemic, meaning they are now desperately seeking the first role along their career pathway and an opportunity to prove themselves, their worth and the untold talent they can bring to the table.

Empower Growth

As lockdown restrictions ease and the vaccine rollout continues, Lead Kinetics aims to help empower the growth of UK businesses and assist them on the road to recovery. They will do so by sourcing the next generation of digital marketing graduates through their graduate scheme. This means they are able to seek out a wealth of untapped talent, which can be nurtured to help navigate the ravages of the health crisis. 

HR professionals can take advantage of this, by hiring and onboarding exceptional graduates into their businesses, all while offering solid training and development programs that engage, retain and, above all, capture the imagination. This is so that these young professionals can go on to add strategic value while supporting their overarching commercial goals. Organisations will benefit from this new lease of life and input of fresh ideas to achieve success in a post-Covid world.

We Work With You

Lead Kinetics' graduate scheme has processes in place which work in tandem with HR departments to streamline and shorten the hiring journey, leading to meaningful, long-term employment which will, in turn, help to build back the economy. The business also has a proven track record in being able to plug the skills gaps across a range of businesses in multiple sectors with creative, influential digital graduates who can, in turn, deliver revenue growth and online success at hard-to-beat value.