BUSINESS leaders are being urged to play their part in avoiding a “lost generation” of young people whose career prospects have been blighted by the recession.

BUSINESS leaders are being urged to play their part in avoiding a “lost generation” of young people whose career prospects have been blighted by the recession.

With nearly one in five people aged under 25 currently out of work, and a fresh wave of graduates looking for employment, Suffolk businessman Shaun Bailey is encouraging local companies to consider offering graduate placements.

Mr Bailey, chief executive of Suffolk and London-based brand and marketing agency group Jacob Bailey, said: “There is a lot of alarming news at the moment referring to the 'lost generation' and the 'jobless, gifted young' as young people are becoming victims of job cuts due to the recession.

“I'm under no disillusion that placements are solely the answer but they are most certainly a way of offering graduates valuable work experience and some hope of a better chance of finding a job in the future.”

Supporting the Government's appeal to businesses to help kick-start graduates' careers by offering placements, Mr Bailey also believes that interns offer a lot to companies in return by introducing fresh enthusiasm and thinking in to a business.

“However short term it may be, the eagerness of graduates can help restore focus and interest among staff and they can very often present new ideas,” he added.

Mr Bailey, who has recently offered three graduates placements across the group, which includes White Space Design, White Space Public Relations and Vitamin Creative, has earned recognition in helping promising young professionals, both regionally and nationally. The first placement, Rebecca Riley, has already started with White Space Design.

As a mentor to local budding entrepreneurs through YES (Young Entrepreneurs Succeed) and more recently his involvement with the Young Direct Marketing Awards in his role as chairman on the Direct Marketing Association's agencies council, Mr Bailey is keen to stress the importance of nurturing young talent.

He said: “The economic future of the region relies on young people with a passion to succeed in business and we can't afford for their aspirations to fade or worse, lose them from the area altogether.

“It's up to local businesses to ensure we retain the up and coming talent for the long-term good and offering a placement can help graduates establish a stronger foot hold on their career ladder.”

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