By Isle of Wight Observer
I don’t remember anyone complaining that President Obama invaded Pakistan to grab Osama Bin Laden. Once captured, Bin Laden was summarily executed by American troops, who then dumped the body at sea. Imagine the outrage if President Trump had done the same in Venezuela? With much of Britain covered in snow, Keir Starmer probably spent the week praying Trump wouldn’t mistake England for Greenland. Imagine the shock if he grabbed Sir Keir, who (in case you need it, Donald) lives in the top‑floor flat, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA. Denmark owns Greenland, and apparently, it’s of vital importance to NATO and America’s security. Donald’s not seriously proposing an invasion; he’s just negotiating to acquire it. I didn’t lose any sleep over either incident this week; I was too busy fretting about our young people.
In the past, all kids had after‑school and weekend jobs. At the age of 10, my brothers and I delivered milk, bread, and newspapers. I have no idea if our employers were insured for these dangerous, high‑risk activities; I suspect not. If I’d fallen off my rickety old bike carrying that heavy Sunday paper bag – or had a stack of bloomer‑laden bread trays topple and crush me – my Mum wouldn’t have sued anyone.
A pal runs a small fencing business. Someone asked if he would give their strapping lad some ‘work experience.’ Being a good egg, he readily agreed. Once he’d done so, an email arrived asking him to confirm his insurance details and Health and Safety policies, specifically as they relate to having a young person on work experience. Unsurprisingly, at this point, my mate had visions of his nail gun piercing the lad’s hand, or his post‑banger crushing his big toe. Unsurprisingly, there was a change of heart, and the deal was off.
Did you know that employers are required to obtain a permit from the council before taking on school‑age children? Alan Milburn, a former Health Secretary, says “young people are no longer prepared for the workplace because of the decline of the Saturday job.” To avoid a lost generation, Milburn thinks the current government should reverse this calamitous state of affairs ASAP. Fewer than one in five 16‑21‑year‑olds had any work at all in 2024 compared with around half at the turn of the century. So, what happened? Are teenagers lazier than they used to be? Generally, they do seem to be more anxious. Why have parents allowed their little darlings to become totally reliant on them for cash?
Work isn’t just about gaining your independence. A weekend or after‑school job teaches you what it’s like to be in the workplace, to understand punctuality and repetition. A million of Britain’s young people are NEETs, not in education, training or employment. What do they do all day? Sleep and look at TikTok videos? My builder pal has a 17‑year‑old son desperately looking for work. He’s tried local supermarkets and fast‑food restaurants; none have taken him on. Three days a week, he’s at sixth‑form college. He’s a fit, smart lad; I cannot believe he’s of no use to an Island employer.
On the mainland, I’ve just taken on an 18‑year‑old. It’s early days, but he’s bright, presentable and keen to get a start in life. Over the years, we’ve done this time and time again, and in almost every case, it worked out well for both parties. Some of our young hires went on to become hospital mortuary managers and senior executives within the funeral industry. One is still with us; another runs his own successful business.
Before he joined us, that one smoked a lot of weed; his dad told us he was “off the rails,” and we helped put him back on track.
Young people need jobs; our politicians must take note.