A new initiative aimed at boosting young people’s employability skills has been launched.

The Deloitte Employability Initiative is the firm’s flagship community education programme, developed in response to concerns about skill levels amongst college leavers. Deloitte, through the Deloitte Foundation, has committed £2m funding over a five-year period to help 16-19-year-olds develop the skills, attitudes and behaviours they need to secure and sustain employment. Deloitte employability courses, running at 34 colleges, are currently benefiting 1,600 students and are expected to reach up to 50,000 by 2011.

Richard Stone, director of community investment at Deloitte, commented: “We have worked with employers, training consultants, colleges and government to create courses that provide young people with the skills they need for sustainable employment. 

“Around 82% of our students to date have succeeded in achieving a Level 2 qualification in employability skills, meaning that they can demonstrate to prospective employers that they have much-needed skills such as communication, time management and team working. We believe the Deloitte employability course is unique in addressing these skills gaps and we have worked hard to ensure that it is possible to deliver, assess and accredit these vital skills.

“Today’s report is a timely reminder of how personal and social skills, attitude and behaviour count as much as numeracy and literacy for young people when seeking and gaining employment.”