HRH The Prince of Wales gives royal approval to Seeing is Believing in Wales

The Prince was in Newport to see the work of His Charities in Wales.  President of both The Prince’s Trust, Business in the Community and Patron for the Young Dragons scheme, The Prince met young beneficiaries of his causes and business leaders during the visit to the Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre.

The Prince heard from business leaders who joined in six visits across Wales and the initiatives and partnerships that have emerged as a result over the past 18 months.  The visits have involved more than 80 representatives from more than 50 companies.

With youth unemployment at a record high, it has never been harder for young people. Young people represent a massive pool of untapped potential for Welsh businesses and their continued exclusion from the world of work has serious consequences to both business and society.

Four visits held in Cardiff, Newport, Wrexham and Swansea led by Good Relations, the University of Wales Newport, Sharp Manufacturing UK and Working Links all focused on climate change and environmental sustainability. The Prince heard how the visits reinvigorated the drive for carbon and waste reduction amongst the businesses with 70% of attendees joining The Prince’s Mayday Network and a further 50% setting targets for carbon reduction of between 3 and 20%.

Visits led by Kraft UK in Wrexham and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water in the Heads of the Valleys opened doors to community groups and schools and asked leaders to look at how they could address skills shortages within industry whilst engaging with young people in education.  The Prince heard how the visits had been the catalyst for partnerships between business and the education sector in some of Wales’ most deprived areas and helped raise the aspirations of pupils.

At the event, young people from The Prince’s Trust and the Young Dragons scheme joined discussions about how the business community can young people by providing opportunities that prepare them for the jobs market. Youth unemployment in Wales currently stands at a record high of 137,000, a 17 per cent increase on 12 months ago.

“Businesses must dramatically transform their talent and skills strategies to ensure they are attracting skilled young people into their workforces by prioritising young people; being flexible and innovative in their recruitment and employment methods; offering inspiring work experience placements; opening up recruitment to non graduates and creating work places and roles that meet the needs of young recruits. We challenge our members, and all businesses to ensure the future prosperity of our talent pool in Wales and the UK as a whole by supporting young talent and creating much needed jobs and apprenticeship places for young people.”

The Seeing is Believing programme was launched by HRH in 1990. To date, over 8,000 business leaders have left their desks and taken part in a Seeing is Believing visit.