Eight young people are assessing and scoring the job section on 200 rural Leicestershire employer websites.

The assessment has been designed and is delivered by young people to see if an employer meets young people’s criteria and expectations when applying for jobs online. 

This work is being led by Access Generation CIC, a social enterprise involved in the Work Live Leicestershire (WiLL) project.

The WiLL project, which is being led by sight-loss charity Vista, and funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, aims to help over 500 people into work, training or learning opportunities in rural areas.

Young people are often caught in a catch 22; no experience, but need the experience to work. 

Access Generation provides young people with a platform and a voice to raise awareness of the issues they face when applying for jobs.

Their peer panel of young peopled aged 18 to 30 are currently undertaking the assessments of employer websites from across Market Harborough district, Melton Mowbray, North West Leicestershire and Hinckley and Bosworth district.

Some of the peer panel members are also living in rural Leicestershire.

Suraya, a member of Access Generation’s peer panel, said: “I live in a rural community and since graduating I have found it hard to find employment. I would love to see more local employers offering graduate or trainee positions and making the job application process supportive to someone who hasn’t got the experience yet.”

The results of the assessments will be published in a report for the WiLL project in the New Year.

Jemma Redden, director of Access Generation, said: “We want this research to be used to highlight the gap in the recruitment process for inexperienced young people and then provide guidance for employers to make the necessary changes to make the process of applying for work accessible and supportive.”

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