JLL joins coalition of employers to help young people

Recognising that youth unemployment is hitting disproportionately across the country, the Department for Opportunities – the new campaign arm of the Social Mobility Foundation – is bringing together a coalition of employers who are committed to doing all they can to help young people by creating and extending opportunities in hard hit areas.  

The Department for Opportunities is calling on the Government to target the support it has announced to help young people in the hardest hit areas. It is also urging government to immediately create a National Database of Opportunities so young people can see what opportunities are available in their local area or online via virtual placements. This will mean everything – from job opportunities to apprenticeships, kickstarter jobs to virtual work experience – is clearly visible in one place.

Calling for a joint effort not just from Government but also employers, Alan Milburn, Chair of the Social Mobility Foundation said: “Young people in ‘left behind’ parts of our country are already suffering disproportionately high unemployment. If past recessions are anything to go by ‘Generation Covid’ is at risk of being the biggest losers from the coming recession. Without urgent action social mobility will be hit and regional inequalities will widen.

“Government can help by targeting its employment and training support programmes on social mobility coldspots. It should set to work immediately to create a National Database of Opportunities so young people can see how to access opportunities."

“Some businesses are already showing what can be done by extending support to young people. We are delighted a number of major employers have already backed our call and invite others to join a national coalition to create new opportunities for young people."

Claire England, director of diversity and inclusion UK at JLL, said: “As an employer who has already been recognised for taking significant action on the issue of social mobility in the UK workplace, we are committed to driving positive change for our people and the communities we work in.

“We are proud to be a founder member of the Social Mobility Foundation’s coalition of employers. We want to play our part and collaborate with other businesses to help address the systemic issue of social mobility in the UK.”

Employers who sign up to the coalition are committed to playing their part in creating opportunities for young people as this economic crisis deepens – be it through virtual mentoring or internships to donating laptops and computers to those most in need.

JLL was ranked fourth in the Top 75 employers in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2019 being recognised as one of the Top 10 employers in the UK who have taken the most action on the issue of social mobility in the workplace. 

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 94,000 as of March 31, 2020. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.