Former Apprentice winner Lee McQueen, and founder of training, development and mentoring organisation, Raw Talent Academy, says that high youth unemployment is increasing the appetite for a career in recruitment.

McQueen told Recruiterthat with unemployment among 18-24-year-olds around 1m more young people are being attracted to recruitment. “The question is whether their ability and personal profile meets the needs of recruiters,” said McQueen.

“The recruitment industry has a tendency to recycle staff. The whole nature of my business is to bring in people from different industry sectors that may not have worked in recruitment before, such as those in sales jobs.”

McQueen was speaking ahead of a special event marking the signing of a contract between Raw Talent Academy and Blue Arrow Catering & Blend.

The event, entitled Showcase London, which is being held this evening at Merchant Taylors Livery Hall, London will be staffed by Blue Arrow Catering & Blend spanning hosts/hostesses, porters, service staff, wine waiters and a brigade of chefs.

McQueen will be working with Blue Arrow Catering & Blend as a mentoring and training partner throughout 2011 to help attract and retain talent, and to champion the catering and hospitality sector.

Blue Arrow Catering & Blend is aiming to make hospitality and catering the sector to work in over the next 12 months, bringing to it an increased number of highly motivated and skilled employees and highlighting the opportunities the sector offers for advanced training and professional development.

Nick Gourley, managing director of Blue Arrow Catering & Blend, adds: “Blue Arrow Catering & Blend is delighted to announce details of Showcase London, which truly demonstrates our ability to provide top class catering and hospitality talent.”