The Shaping Portsmouth Team are delighted to welcome Jessi Wilson as the new Programme Lead of our Youth Employment Programme.
Jessi is Programme Facilitator – Youth Voice and Leadership at Unloc, where she is now in her fifth academic year of facilitating the Council of Portsmouth Students (CoPS) and has recently taken over the facilitation of the Portsmouth Youth Cabinet.
Jessi said “I am pleased to join Shaping Portsmouth as the Co-Lead of their Youth Employment Programme and am passionate about continuing to work with young people with this employment focus.
“I’m hyper-aware of the demands from young people around careers and employment – a recent survey undertaken by CoPS told us, of the 656 Year 7 – 13 students who responded, 19.7% of them (129) had little or no knowledge of careers, with 44.4% (291) saying ‘yes’ – they wanted to learn more about careers. I’m keen to continue to listen to youth voice in the city and work with local businesses to find opportunities for the determined young people of Portsmouth to assist them in their life journeys.”
Marian Glover, Business Pillar Lead at Shaping Portsmouth, said “We are excited to announce Jessi as the lead of our Youth Employment Programme. Her deep-rooted connection to Portsmouth’s youth community makes it a perfect fit.
“Our programme aims to bridge the gap between young people and meaningful employment. By removing barriers and connecting businesses with local talent, we strive to create a more inclusive job market.
“According to a recent Portsmouth Youth Cabinet survey, 91% of young people in Portsmouth have never held a paid job. This highlights the urgent need for businesses to step up and offer opportunities. Jessi’s passion for empowering youth aligns perfectly with our mission. Together, we will work to equip young people with the tools and support they need to thrive in today’s workforce. We invite businesses to join us in shaping the future of Portsmouth by providing opportunities to these eager and talented young individuals.”
