A new study has highlighted that a staggering 53% of teenagers, aged between 11 and 18, are anxious about entering the workforce, with fears stemming from uncertainty and a dread of making errors. Parents are equally concerned, with 40% fearing their children will face career struggles due to lack of essential skills.
They pinpoint a lack of communication and organisational skills as potential obstacles, alongside low confidence and limited experience. Yet, alarmingly, less than 10% of parents have any idea of post-16 qualifications, and over half feel ‘helpless’ in guiding their children’s educational paths.
A spokesperson from Talking Futures empahsised the pivotal influence of parents, saying: “When it comes to shaping a child’s life and career choices, no one is more influential than their parents. That’s why it’s so important to understand all the options available to your child it’s your best chance of giving them the support that’s right for them.”
In response, Talking Futures has initiated the ‘Technical Education Opens Doors’ campaign to highlight the value of technical education in preparing youth with the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge for their professional lives.
London’s vibrant Southbank and Manchester’s bustling Media City have been chosen as the settings for a unique one-day pop-up event, created to highlight alternative educational pathways.
“With this new campaign, we want to highlight how technical education options like T-levels, apprenticeships and HTQs can open doors for young people and help prepare them for employment,” explained a spokesperson for the initiative.
The launch was graced by none other than campaign ambassador Tim Campbell MBE, who stated: “As a parent, I understand the worries we have about ensuring our children have the right experience to pursue a fulfilling career but, equally, as an employer, I am aware of the skills that businesses are looking for.”
He continued with some sage advice for parents: “We all want to do the best to support our children so my advice would be to find out more about the education options available to your child. There are numerous routes, and not all of them will be the right fit for every young person.”
Campbell also highlighted the importance of knowledge in shaping youngsters’ future, suggesting, “Try to be as informed as you can about what is out there, so that you can have open and informative conversations with your child about their future career prospects.”
