Today's youth unemployment figures highlight the need for a much more joined up approach from years 14 to 24.

Enormous impact can be made on moving 18-24 years olds into work and also into starting their own business. Enterprise is a really important focus to bring these numbers down more quickly, and to create sustainable reductions in youth unemployment under the Work Programme. However, A4e’s investment in Vox Centres, which deal with 14-18 year olds outside mainstream school and college provision, shows the challenge in tackling future unemployment post 18.

The needs of graduates seeking employment are very different to young people with no qualifications, quite apart from the social issues that might have a bearing on their circumstances, so we have a range of support structures in place. A4e’s holistic approach incorporates comprehensive support services, including; health, nutrition, technology access, motivational courses, and financial advice. Similarly for older people out of work, the range of services, and those who provide that, will be distinct from other groups of customers.

Through our services for people who are unemployed, one of the critical issues we deal with is the raft of other problems that people accumulate as they spend longer being unemployed. As well as a loss of confidence and self-esteem, disconnection from the labour market and loss of skills, there are deeper issues such as mental health problems, debt, family difficulties and, in some cases, drug and alcohol addiction that must be taken into account.

A significant number of people that have been unemployed for a year or more have health or social issues that make their return to work more difficult. Figures released this week have suggested that economic and unemployment problems have triggered a 43% rise in prescriptions of anti-depressants in the UK over the last four years.

Public service providers must do more to treat the unemployed as individuals. It is essential the new Work Programme - which allows operators this freedom - responds to that challenge.

One way in which A4e has sought to differentiate its services to customers is the way we personalise what we offer. We seek to design and deliver the services around the needs of individuals. We are a business built on tackling issues and generating positive outcomes. We will not shirk away from walking towards difficult or intractable problems and trying to find solutions. The range of markets we work in - health, legal services, debt, skills, independent living - reflect the needs of our consumers.  Our customers, through personal advisers who broker and deliver the support they need, help people address the difficulties they are dealing with.  

An important aspect of how we approached the Work Programme is the ‘black box’ approach. We design tailored, specific services to address the needs of each individual on the programme in a personalised way throughout their journey into work. Each person's route will be different and our services - and those of our partners - must reflect that.

In recent years, many public services have become ‘over programmed’. Every new issue was seemingly addressed by a new ‘initiative’. Commissioners, suppliers, financiers, consumers - we all need to adjust our expectations. We must be bold and innovative. The Work Programme is at the cutting edge of this change - coupled with payment by results - and will need to be iterated to succeed and develop new ways to support people into work and self employment. More quickly, more people, for longer!

Mark Lovell is the executive chairman of A4e, a social purpose company that designs, manages and delivers front line public services

Tags: A4E, Work programme, Youth unemployment