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The Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced measures to help young people get a foot on the career ladder with a new work experience and traineeship scheme. The initiative is backed by big companies like Mercedes-Benz, BT, HSBC, General Motors and Virgin Media in an effort to tackle youth unemployment.

Aimed at the 16 to 24 year old group, the new scheme will go live in August with over 100 companies offering a range of extended work experience opportunities of between six weeks and five months. There will also be provision for support on career skills such as CV writing, covering letters and interview practice.

Damian Brown, of the BT Group, welcomed the new traineeship scheme by the government, saying: “We recognise young people need extra help to make their first move into employment and to overcome many of the barriers they face. This [scheme] will help ensure they have proficient levels of literacy, numeracy and an understanding of work, so they are attractive candidates to employers.”

The new announcement by the Government follows recent news of the 1,400 work experience opportunities which Marks & Spencer are offering to people under the age of 26 in the UK.

Minister for Skills, Matthew Hancock said it was vital for the economy as a whole that the government finds ways to ensure that Britain’s youth were able to ‘cross the start line’ and get on the career ladder with a job or apprenticeship.

“Young people in Britain deserve the chance to work and get on in life which is why we're introducing traineeships to help them get on the first rung of the ladder. Employers value real experience which is why I'm delighted that more than 100 businesses have come forward. I now want to urge more employers - no matter what size - to sign up to the programme and make the most of the talents of our young people,” said Mr Hancock.

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