Last week HR reported the CBI had argued employers should be given more say in the design of A-level qualifications following proposals to change the system were put forward by the education secretary. The education secretary, Michael Gove, has proposed a shake-up to the A level system, to give universities more control over the design and development of the exams, in a letter to the exam regulator Ofqual.
Responding to Gove's plans Pickering said: "The skill-set required by young people after secondary education extends far beyond university. There are a whole host of practical skills that must sit alongside, to help prepare young people not just for higher education, but for future employment. It shouldn't just come down to education - there's a growing need for businesses - both big and small - to do more to help nurture young talent.
"In a digital society, there's an untapped wealth of skill and knowledge that sit firmly within the youth community, and which are the future fuel of the economy - but as it stands, there's just not enough being done to harness them. There's a variety of ways that businesses can help young people build their skills; from offering quality work experience, meaningful mentoring, training and apprenticeships, and of course, job creation.
"Taking responsibility to nurture young talent has the potential to benefit young people through the creation of new opportunities, but also helps businesses create a unique pool of talent within their own organisation, with the most modern-skill set possible. We know because a fifth of our own employees are under 25. It's an investment, but a very worthy one."
