ALLiance for YOUth launches Readiness for Work toolkit to help drive employability

Today, we are delighted to be part of a major Alliance for Youth initiative, a program committed to tackling youth unemployment in Europe. It’s a Readiness for Work toolkit, which is designed to provide insights and practical help to young people on where to search for a job, how to present themselves and how to increase their employability.

Unemployment remains one of the biggest issues facing young Europeans today and last year, some of Europe’s largest companies joined forces to create the Alliance for Youth. A key focus of the Alliance for Youth is to drive employability, by helping young people better prepare for finding a job.  

Today, representatives from DS Smith, AXA, Nestle, Nielsen, White & Case and other Alliance member organisations - in partnership with the University of Surrey in the UK - are teaming up with students, apprentices, interns and graduates to launch the Readiness for Work toolkit. They are also helping to promote employability through presentations, panel discussions and ‘speed-readiness’ sessions hosted by some of Europe’s top business leaders.

The toolkit is designed to be used in collaboration with universities, colleges of further education and schools for use with students.  Business and HR Leaders from Alliance member organisations will deliver the toolkit in at least 12 languages across Europe.

Miles Roberts, CEO, DS Smith commented:

“We are very excited about being part of this initiative. Business has an important part to play in resolving some of the key economic and social challenges of today. There is a vast amount that can be done by companies across Europe to give hope and opportunity to young people who may be struggling to find employment, and we at DS Smith are delighted to be involved."