Young people are facing unprecedented challenges and urgently need guidance and support, according to entrepreneur Carlene Jackson.
The founder of tech company Cloud9 Insight and apprenticeship provider Vantage Academy, says she is increasingly concerned about the prospects of young adults affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of an effort to help students and young adults get back on track, she has joined five other entrepreneurs and business leaders to launch Generation Jungle, a completely free, online event, offering advice and inspiration on how to get ahead in a disrupted world.
Career advice from leaders
Generation Jungle aims to offer a gateway and a greater sense of hope and opportunity, with leading experts offering their services and advice for free in order to address these pressing problems.
The online event will take place on Thursday, October 8, running from 2pm to 5pm GMT, and will feature insight from entrepreneurs, training providers and employers on how young people can get ahead after a year of disruption.
“I am very concerned for young people right now. Their education has been severely disrupted, training and skills development is not taking place. It feels like they’ve been forgotten and I want to do more to help,” says Jackson.
“I really like working with young people, training them and helping them with their careers. But now I feel there’s a real moral imperative to this. We can’t allow a ‘lost generation’ to form, although that’s a real danger of that happening.”
Many career options
Topics under discussion include how to make money through self-employment and side hustles, how to gain crucial skills and take advantage of the ‘tech skills gap’, and what employers are really looking for in the 2020s.
“I want to show young people there are many pathways to success,” adds Jackson. “The tech industry offers brilliant career options and there is a huge demand for skills. You don’t have to gain a degree to work for a major company, and many should consider apprenticeships.”
The line-up
Speakers will include:
- Simon Paine, co-founder of the PopUp Business School CEO, who has helped launch over 7,500 businesses and educated over 10,000 entrepreneurs across the world
- Carlene Jackson, founder of the rapidly growing tech company Cloud9 Insight and government-approved apprenticeship provider Vantage Academy
- Luke Mead, founder of LMS Group, who set up his company when he was just 15 years old and has now turned it into a multi-million pound enterprise
- Jimmy Williams, CEO of insurtech Urban Jungle, who since founding his business in 2016 has grown it to 23 staff, amassed over 25,000 customers and raised £7.8m in funding from private investors and VCs
- Ekua Cant, author of Be Your No.1 Cheerleader, a serial entrepreneur, campaigner and senior adviser to business and civic leaders
- Jaz Broughton, who coaches young tech professionals and entrepreneurs and partners with organisations such as Enterprise Nation, General Assembly and Red Badger.
Sign up for career advice
Generation Jungle is a free event for students and young people around the world who are looking for advice, support and encouragement in a tough jobs market.
Sponsored by insurance company Urban Jungle, it will offer impartial advice on building skills and confidence, starting up a business and career development.
To find out more and to sign up, visit:
https://explore.myurbanjungle.
