The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has reiterated its call for a targeted approach to encourage employers to take on young people.

Speaking at a press briefing last week, ahead of today’s CBI conference, director general John Cridland (left) said “the absolute priority” was to help 16-17-year-olds and that the government should set aside £150m for the purpose.

Cridland said: “If you give a [National Insurance] rebate to small companies if they recruit 16-17-year-olds, or 16-24-year-olds who have been out of work for six months you will give those young people a push up the priority list.”

Last week youth unemployment rose to more than 1m.

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s Ed McRandal, responsible for the organisation’s Youth Employment Charter, added: “It is important that the recruitment industry gets involved in the fight against youth unemployment.

“With recent gloomy job figures, it is important that we highlight good practice within the industry to demonstrate the positive role that recruiters continue to play.”

See recruiter.co.uk’s 17 November article ‘Less conversation, more action needed on apprenticeships’ for recruitment agencies’ take on how to get younger people into employment.