Sending young unemployed to job centres full-time 'pointless', says employer

"The Job Centre has become a defunct organisation, totally unfit for purpose," according to Will Davies, a large scale employer in the UK construction sector.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said that long-term unemployed people, including under 24 year-olds, who were unwilling to "commit to their obligations" will have to report daily to Job Centres for "intensive support".

"Selected individuals will receive expert support and supervision while they search and apply for jobs. That is nine o'clock to five o'clock - 35 hours a week - for up to six months, simulating the working day," said Duncan Smith.

"The minister's desire to instil a work ethic in young workers is to be applauded but unfortunately the Job Centre Network is now totally devoid of passion and has absolutely no idea how to motivate and work with the youth of today," said Davies - managing director and founder of property maintenance and refurbishment company aspect.co.uk.

"They are more interested in protecting young people's right not to work and I find it hugely concerning that the prospects of our next generation of workers is in the hands of such a backward and inefficient organisation," Davies added.

Chancellor George Osborne had already told the party conference that from April individuals who are unable to find work through the Work Programme will have to report the Job Centre daily, engage in community work or compulsory training if they are not to loose their benefits.

"We all know that young people trying to find their way in the world of work are having an incredibly tough time at the moment," said Davies.

The property maintenance firm has been playing their part through their employment bootcamps. This initiative was created last year in an attempt to help young people develop their work skills and improve their employability. The most recent of these took place last month.

"If employers can give young people an opportunity to demonstrate how keen they are to work; they will be astonished with the results," concluded Davies.

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