TV broadcaster and vice-chairman of West Ham United football club Karren Brady helped students launch a work experience programme.
She was joined by TV and radio presenter Jameela Jamil and Barclays retail and banking chief executive Ashok Vaswani last Thursday at Langdon Park School in Poplar.
LifeSkills, an education programme and work experience matching service run by Barclays is aimed at reaching one million young people by 2015.
From next month teachers can access free resources designed to develop skills such as CV writing, managing money, and building self-confidence. Teachers can then match students to local work experience opportunities.
Ms Brady, who is an ambassador for the programme, called on small and large businesses to get involved.
She said: “Supporting the next generation into work is vital to the health of every business in the UK. They are our future work force but also our future entrepreneurs
“It will provide the practical support you need to offer young people the work experience that will be so critical to their – and our economy’s - future.”
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