PEF’s First Lecture

PEF held its inaugural lecture on 11th November 2008. Hosted by Ashurst LLP, the evening brought together a range of stakeholders from charity, government, private equity and the policy world to prompt a lively discussion.

Keynote speaker, Sir Michael Rake, highlighted an urgent need to address the shortfall in young peoples’ skills to enable them to compete in today’s job market. The Chairman of both BT Group and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills spoke of the possible huge damage to the economy if training was cut back during the current economic downturn and praised initiatives such as those undertaken by PEF as “spot on” if society is to avoid a tremendous waste of talent.

Sir Michael warned that the unemployable total could reach six million by 2020 and, pre-empting sceptics, asked: “Who wants to take the risk that the figure is wrong?” However, he continued that the financial climate could offer some advantages, providing a breathing space in which to develop education. He said: “There has never been a better opportunity to look at how we can enhance skills.” The Commission for Employment and Skills is currently looking at steps to deliver immediate results, such as the dramatic simplification of the skills delivery system and the launch of a portal which will map out what services are available and how they can be accessed.

PEF’s Chief Executive, Shaks Ghosh, said: “Sir Michael has shone the spotlight on how the UK has to do more to ensure that young people develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy. Unfortunately our system means that they often only get one chance. It is imperative that we find ways to give them a second chance, for the sake of their own lives, for business and for society.”

Sir Michael was joined by a panel of experts, chaired by Richard Reeves, Director of the think tank Demos. It included Sue Baldwin from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Richard Wainer, Head of Education and Skills at the CBI, Andy Powell, Chief Executive of education foundation Edge and Lee McConville who, with the help of PEF portfolio charity Fairbridge, had firsthand experience of the issues up for discussion.

Two years ago, Lee heard about Fairbridge through his hostel in Birmingham. In his own words, the charity’s courses and projects literally provided him with a lifeline. While at Fairbridge Lee got the chance to work on a short film for the Fairbridge Film and Animation Awards - a gritty film about guns and gangs in Lozells, Birmingham.

By way of the Awards, Lee’s film was viewed by the Media Trust and he was put forward for a new youth mentoring project that involved traveling to Germany for the G8 summit with Philip Webster, Political Editor of The Times.

Just under a year later, Lee is at Harlow College completing his NCTJ qualification, interviewed the three political party leaders for the Times and has appeared in the Guardian.