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The current round of A-level and GCSE results has shown there to be a considerable amount of talent among young people. While, no doubt, there will be the annual debate over whether exams have become easier, wouldn't it be more appropriate to congratulate our young people on their achievements? The opening of that brown envelope with my school's frank on it is one of those life events I can still recall, although thankfully, with less trepidation now than I felt at the time. I cannot imagine the insult and upset that would have been caused by being told that the results achieved were due to easier exam. At the time of my exam results, the public sector, yes even local government, was considered a worthwhile career. Oh how times have changed. The dearth of young people entering local government poses a real risk to many of the services we provide in the future. With the impact of reducing public sector resources, there will, no doubt, be many experienced staff leaving local government. So what is being done to replace this lost expertise? Surely, this is an opportunity local authorities should grasp. At this time of economic difficulty, councils can offer trainee opportunities or apprenticeships to young people leaving full-time education, or those who have been receiving job-seekers allowance for six or more months. This would help local people to embark on a rewarding and challenging career and, in the latter example, could gain the employing authority £1,000 in government grant. Given the talent that is on offer, can we really afford to ignore this pool of resource? For those councils which consider themselves too small to offer training opportunities, then there is the chance of working with other councils. This is a route I hope my own council, Stratford-upon-Avon DC, will take. In my experience, the vibrancy of a workplace is enhanced by having a good mix of staff, most definitely including young people. With less resource we must have better skilled and trained staff, and we can only do that if every local authority takes action now to manage the challenges coming our way. Paul Lankester is chief executive at Stratford-upon-Avon

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WHITEHALL

District View

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