Connecting, communicating and giving back – the trinity of commitment that industry must make to close the glaring skills gap, according to Yvonne Mason OBE DL.

She’s been driving change for decades, bridge building between industry and young people, drawing on her life experience, knowledge and contacts.

“Industry must make itself visible and understood by young people, with businesses opening their doors, connecting with schools in their communities and communicating what they do, the job roles they have and where they fit in,” said Yvonne. “How can young people find their future if they can’t see or understand what is out there and all the regional and global opportunities industry offers?”

It is crucial that businesses invest in connecting with young people where they spend time – in education and their communities – to link them with careers on their doorstep, she believes.

“Joining the dots” to shape opportunities for young people is in Yvonne’s DNA. It won her recognition in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2020 New Year Honours List for her years of dedication to inspire and empower young people in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Yvonne runs global shipping services business SafeSTS(Image: SAFESTS)

BROADENING HORIZONS

Growing up in Gorleston, Norfolk, with “conservative ambitions” for her career, Yvonne understands the challenges of young people in the region.

Global travel with her first company heightened her desire for young people to experience different cultures. She set up The Mason Trust 17 years ago with a key focus on broadening the worlds of local young people. The trust has taken or sent around 1,000 young people from Norfolk and Suffolk to 50 countries, learning by doing, teaching children and engaging them in community, education, research, volunteering projects, sport and performing arts.

The effects have been transformative. Young people returned with more confidence, empathy, understanding of the needs of others and clearer ideas where their futures could lay, she said.

One of the first “lived experience” trips was to Nairobi, working with the Starahe Leadership School (co-funded by Shell and BP) and a group from Fleggburgh High School, Great Yarmouth Charter Academy and others across the county. The trips were supported by The Mason Trust and jack-up vessel company Seajacks, now Cadeler.

“Witnessing the slums and the depths of how people lived made them revalue their own lives and the difficulties other people face,” said Yvonne. “They came home with confidence and a different perspective. It gave them the opportunity to help people. One is now a lawyer, coming from a challenging family background, and others are now in professions across the county.

“These young people are encouraged to give back to other young people which, over time, will create a continuous circle of support.”

CLEAR CAREER PATHS

The Mason Trust inspired Yvonne and her fellow trustees to create ICANBEA (icanbea. org.uk), a platform for young people to explore and research future career options, jointly funded by the trust and Suffolk County Council.

“It shows them the way........

© Eastern Daily Press