Opportunities for young people in Yorkshire drying up in the wake of coronavirus pandemic

Ambitions for many of the nation's young people turned to scorched earth as opportunities vanished before they could be grasped.
George Stocker found work hard to come by after completing university, so moved back home with his parents and set up his own companyGeorge Stocker found work hard to come by after completing university, so moved back home with his parents and set up his own company
George Stocker found work hard to come by after completing university, so moved back home with his parents and set up his own company

A meagre smattering of jobs, filled as soon as they were advertised, or work experience cancelled amid a scramble over university places as gap years were indefinitely postponed.

According to data experts Statistica, youth unemployment this August reached a five-year high, with 14.6 per cent of 16-to-24 year olds out of work - and 17.1 per cent of young men.

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For recent graduate George Stocker, his was a path that had been laden with options, as an academic scholar, a childhood charity hero and a prizewinner of 'outstanding' merit.

George Stocker has set up his own business after leaving universityGeorge Stocker has set up his own business after leaving university
George Stocker has set up his own business after leaving university

Last month, after a desolate summer, he launched his own massage and physiotherapy business in an attempt to pave his own way to a bright future ahead.

"You have to have a positive outlook," said the 22-year-old from York with a determined optimism, having survived a brain tumour at just nine.

"You always have to look to the horizon, to look at the long term. When I was ill it took me more than three years to get better, but I knew it would happen at some point."

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York saw a 35.6 per cent annual drop in the number of advertised vacancies in the first week of October, research by the Institute of Employment Studies (IES) found. In Harrogate, that figure fell 39.7 per cent: in Leeds it was a drop of 38.9, and in Craven, 36.3.

Not all of Yorkshire's economies have retracted at a similar rate - Richmondshire saw a rise of 15.2 per cent in the number of vacancies, while East Riding saw a 41 per cent increase.

According to charity Impetus, Leeds East is among the hardest hit constituencies in the country, with 16.7 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 claiming work-related benefits in June.

Many young people are taking advantage of opportunities, particularly in areas needed during the pandemic, such as care work, with separate research showing school leavers are more interested in those roles than ever before.

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In addition, funding from charities has meant some fledgling businesses can survive in otherwise tricky economic circumstances.

Milly Rose, from Hull, owns an entertainment-based creative business which runs community art projects, alongside providing face painting for parties, events and festivals.

She said: “If you had told me three years ago that I would be painting for some of the largest organisations in the region, I wouldn’t have believed you."

For Ms Rose, group activities are now off-limits, and while she was fully booked right through to December, these are now all cancelled.

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She received funding from the Prince’s Trust to diversify her business and now sells vintage items online, gearing up to produce videos teaching people how to do face painting.

“On the positive side, I’ve been able to concentrate on my digital marketing by creating videos for my business’ YouTube channel," she said.

“Although it’s tough for everyone right now, I do feel positive and even have plans to launch my online face painting tutorial courses through my website."

This spring, Mr Stocker had been readying for his final university exams, with a long summer stretching ahead of him filled with placements and work prospects.

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On March 22, the day before national lockdown was announced, he packed up three years of his life and moved home with his parents in Sutton on the Forest.

The last of his lessons moved online, he finished his exams over Zoom, and graduation was cancelled. There had been little time or chance to say goodbye to his friends.

"It was horrible," he said. "I did struggle, it felt really daunting. I had to move back in with my parents - without a job, you can't pay rent. I was stuck with nothing to do.

"To go away to university, and then just to come back to the same place you started three years ago.... You do end up feeling really down."

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Mr Stocker, who graduated with a 2.1 in Sports Rehabilitation from St Mary's University, spent months sending out CVs, making calls, and working for free to 'get a foot in the door'.

At one point, he was gladly driving two hours a day to Manchester for work experience, although the company couldn't pay him.

"It's extremely difficult," he said. "A lot of my friends, maybe 80 per cent of the people I graduated with, have nothing and are feeling really down. The others are volunteering. It's a shock to everybody. We all thought we could work."

Mr Stocker, with ambitions for a career in sports rehabilitation, has worked as an assistant physio in a community gym, at charities, and with the Harlequins Rugby Club.

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He was an academic scholar at Queen Ethelburga's College, where he was awarded the outstanding scholar award, and former nominee for Yorkshire Young Achiever of the Year.

At nine years old, he underwent chemotherapy for a brain tumour. Barely able to walk, he was told he would never play rugby again, but he did, after battling through physiotherapy.

He would go on to raise £50,000 for children's cancer charity Candlelighters, proudly carrying the Olympic torch through Wetherby in 2012 as a symbol of achievement.

Last month he rallied again, having launched a company called Yorkshire Sports Injury, volunteering with Harrogate Railway and Wetherby Rugby, as well as taking on personal clients. Classed as a healthcare worker, he can carry on through lockdown.

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"We had no idea," he said, reflecting back on that night in March when he packed up his previous life. "I thought I'd have a good 'last summer', a nice send off from university.

"Most people, on their final placement, end up staying with a job so that's what I was really hoping for. I've ended up setting up on my own, I've created my own job. Having something on the horizon helps. We will come out of this. It's about looking at what we can still do."

Roger Stocker, George's father, is founder of his own business intelligence software company in Leeds, Intuitive.

Having seen his son's struggle to find work this summer, he knows only too well the burden the current crisis places on the prospects of the nation's young people.

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"We've offered a three month internship to another graduate," he said. "If George is struggling, other people will be. It's just to give them that first step. People like me are in a position where we can help a little bit and it can make a big difference."

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