Young people are particularly hard hit by the Government's economically illiterate and socially destructive austerity programme and statistics show that youth unemployment is unacceptably high.

Behind the statistics lie real lives of young people struggling to get on the employment ladder and needing real support.

The Commisson on Youth Unemployment once said: "If the route to university is a well-signposted motorway, the route into work for these 16-to-18-year-olds is more like an unmarked field of landmines".

I welcome City Skills & Jobs as a much-needed bridge over this "unmarked field of landmines", signposting young people towards work experience, training and job opportunities.

It's a win/win project as it offers benefits to employers too, such as information on the Apprenticeship programme and on incentives to support businesses in taking on young people.

With partners including BrightonandHoveJobs.com, Albion in the Community's ‘Want to Work' project and the city council, City Skills & Jobs represents the kind of joined-up thinking that makes for more resilient local economies and I'm confident it will deliver real benefits in Brighton & Hove.

Caroline takes part in the official opening