Introducing Canaan
This week we will be introducing you to our three new young peer researchers who are undertaking research in Middlesbrough. The youth employment accessibility research is based on young people’s experiences and expectations of applying for jobs online. The assessment of the jobs page on company websites is then carried out by young people too.
Our Leicester peer researchers trained Canaan, Damian and Karl in Middlesbrough to carry out the assessment on local company websites. We will have some headline results from this research soon but before we reveal these, we want you to meet the team behind the research.
Today, we’d like you to meet Canaan…
Tell us what you think about Access Generation’s research project?
“Access Generation creates a discussion with employers that young people do not know how to have. The way they are able to engage and employers to streamline and create a user-friendly online application process is great.”
What would you like us to tell employers on your behalf?
“With an ageing population and a stretched workforce, it’s important not to forget that the UK has a wealth of potential world-class workers in today’s young people. There is no such thing as overqualified and there is more to be gained from investing in the new pool of workers than employers realise so don’t miss the opportunity that young people can bring to your organisation.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself…
“My name is Canaan and I’m 22 years old, born in Cambridge but grew up in Middlesbrough. I joined Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency (MVDA) in March 2017 to support the continued development of young people’s involvement in Talent Match Middlesbrough. I started my journey in 2015 when I was referred to the Talent Match Programme as a client. With many doors closed to me, just as many opened and I found new friends and found myself developing a passion to help other young people with the same barriers and issues that I had faced along the road.”
