Here we go then – a letter sent by work programme provider Ingeus to someone I know who owns a (very) small business. The letter just turned up in that person’s post. Looks like Ingeus touting for action – trying to get anyone it can find to “employ” young people from the government’s rubbish Youth Contract programme. I suppose this is what companies do when a “concept” is tanking – they spam away in the hope that somebody somewhere will bite. And in the hope that the press coverge will improve, I guess.

The usual Youth Contract carrot is dangled: the letter makes clear, in nice bold numbers, that £2,275 is available to employers “for every unemployed young person they recruit who is currently on the work programme.” It appears that the company has some sort of catalogue of “enthusiastic young people” from which employers can choose. Wow. Pick your own. “It won’t cost you a penny,” the letter continues. Because, you know – why should employers pay money to recruit if they can get someone to actually pay them to do it? Why shouldn’t we keep forking out for useless work programmes? Why should young people expect real, meaningful well-paid jobs?

Somebody shut these tossers down and do something sensible. Please.