A local recruiter is encouraging employers to look beyond school grades and help young people get into work experience or part-time employment.

Kenieta Domaille, of the Situations Recruitment Agency, said: “If somebody hasn’t got those grades, it really doesn’t mean that they’re not going to be capable.

“I think that all we can do as a society is shift our thinking and speak to young people and encourage them… instead of looking at a piece of paper and saying: ‘Well, they can’t do this.'”

The government said it was “committed to ensuring” young people had the “opportunity to reach their potential”.