Teenagers from schools in London’s deprived East End have been getting tips on how to get jobs in a tough economic climate.

They were given a taste of working life in the City when they were invited to a networking event at the Mansion House as part of a campaign to end youth unemployment in deprived ‘City Fringe’ areas.

The 25 selected students aged 16 to 19, from Sir John Cass in Stepney and George Green’s Secondary on the Isle of Dogs, learned about working life in the City, before being taken on to the Royal Festival Hall where 1,300 youngsters gathered from all over London as part in the Career Academy’s ‘Capital Experience’ day.

Ricky Rawlands, 16, from George Green’s Secondary, said afterwards: “I didn’t realise there were so many careers to choose from in the City.

“But the highlight was speaking to the employers one-to-one and having the chance to ask questions.”

Tower Hamlets has one of the highest levels of ‘City Fringe’ school-leavers with no prospect of careers or jobs.