The United Nations General Assembly declared the 15 July as World Youth Skills Day. This day commemorates the strategic importance of preparing and equipping young people with skills for employment and professional development. 

At Hollis, we’re committed to enhancing and growing the skills of young people, this is an important value that not only contributes to maintaining a successful company but crucially empowers the future generation.  

We delve into all the ways you can implement practical support for the young, aspiring workforce to come. 

Offer practicality and show proactivity  

Businesses are best placed to ensure students are equipped with the skills required to do their best at work. Being proactive and collaborating with schools to deliver skills-based training and workshops benefits both students and businesses. Students gain valuable knowledge and guidance, whilst employees are able to develop their own skills, reach a diverse talent pool (and audience), understand new and relevant trends and increase employee loyalty, while also contributing to positive social change.  

We achieve this by collaborating with Pathways to Property, The Academy of Real Assets, and UrbanPlan UK. These inspiring organisations link expert real estate professionals with talented students, drawing attention to the multitude of careers within the sector. They also promote social mobility and the long-term improvement of the industry by engaging students from various socio-economic backgrounds.

Deliver workshops & industry exposure  

Workshops are a great tool for students to tap into their creativity and critical thinking skills. We work with one of our partners, Urban Plan UK, to run workshops. They focus on the redevelopment of a blighted site in a hypothetical town. Students are grouped into teams to form real estate development companies responding to a call for proposals. 

In this exercise students are exposed to a plethora of skills and insights; they get to understand the industry, which helps them broaden their career prospects. At the same time, students are able to develop their decision-making, strategic thinking, teamwork abilities and confidence. All the invaluable skills and knowledge they need in a workplace, which is why workshops are a brilliant device for providing a comprehensive skillset to up and coming professionals. 

Offer feedback and always acknowledge a job well done 

Confidence building can be a catalyst for a number of professional qualities. It’s always beneficial to react positively to someone’s achievements and efforts, no matter how small.  

Giving constructive feedback and recognition at work is a helpful instrument to support personal growth, reinforce good conduct and enhance the learning and development of young people. We encourage one-to-one check-ins and setting clear objectives, this will provide structure and make their personal and professional development goals clearer. 

Employability skills: CV workshops and mock interviews  

Running CV workshops and mock interview training is another method to equip the aspiring workforce. Hollis takes pride in running these sessions, we enjoy having that open discourse with the students and encouraging them to practice real-life experience of attending a job interview. 

Students get practical coaching on the kinds of interview questions to expect and how to answer them with examples. We also advise on how to look for a job, how to apply, how to prepare for the interview, plus, how to keep the momentum of success going once hired. 

Alternative job pathways and establishing a culture of community 

Providing different ways to enter a business is crucial for businesses who want to find talent they might not have reached with traditional recruitment routes. Offering apprenticeships, internships and work experience attracts a broad range of candidates and provides an alternative route to gain skills and experience, for those that decided against higher education 

Although technical skills can be more readily taught, other essential qualities such as work ethic, communication skills, and group work, can be much more difficult to learn.  

That’s why hiring the right person is often more crucial than hiring a person with the right qualifications. A company’s culture also plays a role in upskilling and enrichment; it’s important to create a culture that enables them to feel comfortable and valued as an individual. This fosters an environment where people can learn from each other and thrive.