Digital services to tackle youth unemployment launched

The three schemes have been created by the winners of the Working Well Challenge, a competition run by the Design Council and social investment organisation the Nominet Trust.

It is hoped young people will use the free online services to improve their job prospects and better connect with employers.

Spark + Mettle, and Pixel Group has developed Discoverables which has been designed to help young people identify their strengths and undertake tasks demonstrating these to potential employers.

The Matter has been developed by Young Scot and Snook, and is a newspaper run, written and published entirely by young people, designed to give them a voice and develop employment skills.

Step Up which has been developed by The House, takes users through their own marketing campaign – used to promote them as individuals – and helps each person identify their ambitions before connecting them with others who can help realise their goals.

Design Council chief design officer Mat Hunter says, ‘This collaboration of up-and-coming young designers working with young people shows how user-centered design can make a real difference to issues in society.

 ‘Here are some real practical solutions to complex problems that also stimulate opportunities for enterprise. The teams have done really well at turning a national problem on its head to create something positive.’