A Surrey businessman gave evidence at a Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee on youth unemployment earlier this week.
Chris Bowman, MD at Paramount Precision Engineering in New Malden, made up a four strong panel of business professionals, including representatives from the Forum of Private Business (FPB), the CBI, and the TUC, who each gave oral evidence at Wednesday’s hearing.
The Committee considered the adequacy of wage incentive schemes, interaction between businesses and schools, preparation of students for the workplace by schools, and the role of employers.
“I was there as the voice of small business, so it was a great opportunity to air my views on where government policy in this area should be heading, and where at the minute it is going wrong,” said Chris.
“I was able to talk on a range of subjects which hopefully will make it in to the committee’s final report, which will be used to help shape future government policy in this crucial area. It was certainly a memorable experience and one I won’t forget.”
Chris, who told the Committee his experience of jobcentres was ‘poor’, expressed concern at the structure of school holidays which meant young people were all looking for work in July. Changes to school term times, he said, would mean young people having access to a lot more work.
He also told the Committee that part-time or day-release work experience placements were not always beneficial to many small businesses as they didn’t allow firms to structure work properly for the participant.
He also spoke about workplace learning, which, while now more common in some industries, he said was less so in manufacturing. “The problem is many workers are now carrying on for longer, either because they don’t have to retire at 65 and don’t want to stop working, or they can’t afford to,” he said.
“So the new jobs for young people are not being created like they used to be, and this means there is now a severe lack of young skilled people learning the trades in manufacturing which have traditionally been passed down the workforce generationally.
“In terms of manufacturing too, schools are shutting down woodwork and metalwork courses in favour of IT skills. This is also a growing problem.”
Chris was invited on give evidence to the Committee by the Forum of Private Business, of which his company is a member. The Forum’s Senior Policy Adviser, Alex Jackman, who also gave evidence alongside him, said: “Chris made some excellent points during the hearing. He’s an experienced businessman with an in-depth knowledge of British industry and especially manufacturing, so hopefully the Committee will have listened carefully to what he said.”
