On the government scheme: a sociological study of work experience on employers' premises

Abstract

This research examines the Work Experience on Employers' Premises element, (WEEP) of the Youth Opportunities Programme, a government sponsored scheme, which arose as a response to increasing levels of youth unemployment in the late nineteen seventies. It looks at WEEP schemes as they were experienced by eighty, sixteen to nineteen year old, unemployed young people, living in Washington New. Town, Tyne and Wear. The young people are studied against their family backgrounds, their experience of schooling, entry into unemployment, involvement with government schemes and from their present view of the world outside of work. It looks at the interlocking nature of the agencies and significant others who are involved with the young people in this transitional phase of their lives - the family, careers service, school. Manpower Services Commission and sponsors. It provides an understanding of WEEP schemes as they are variously experienced, by all the parties involved with their operation. The sudden emergence of the MSG and its massive growth is seen within the context of the schemes; together with the changes and the need for change which this brought to the careers service. The relevance of schooling, notably the final year of schooling is questioned, in terms of preparing young people for the world outside of school. The research took place during the early years of the operation of the Youth Opportunities Programme, and gives the background to the extended government measures, the Youth Training Scheme, for coping with youth unemployment, due to be operational in September 1983.