The Government's £1 billion boost to get young people into jobs and off the unemployment register, is welcome news but it will be an uphill battle, according to Midland agency Hart Recruitment.

Phillippa Hart, managing director, says the Government will have to overcome the unwillingness of young people to take low paid work, skill shortages as well as corporate  caution over training.

The Whitehall initiative is aimed at financial help for companies willing to take 18-24 year-olds and train them, but Phillippa, whose agency is based in Great Barr, Birmingham,  says it won't be easy to attract the young people through the doors.

"Recruitment agencies see it every day. There has been an increase in vacancies, and where candidates only a year ago queued up for just one job, they now have a choice of two or three.

"And that introduces its own problems for recruitment agencies. Candidates are open to counter offers. Good candidates have options which was not the case 12 months ago".

Companies, she says, are showing themselves willing to introduce training and development programmes among staff but are still anxious about committing too much of the budget while the economic future is in doubt.

"Candidates these days are looking for motivation from their employment. They look for a training programme which includes career incentives, added value opportunities and beneficial work life balance", said Phillippa, who is Midlands Regional Director of  TEAM, part of the largest network of independent recruitment companies in the UK.

"Will the amount of money each company will be able to pull down from this latest project, lure firms into taking on trainees? No doubt there will be those who will, but as it is the small and medium enterprises who take on the highest number of staff in the country, there will still be a certain amount of caution".

Among older employment candidates, said Phillippa who has introduced training seminars and is soon to launch interview workshops at her company, there are reservations over having to travel to work.

"The price of petrol and diesel used in travelling to and from the place of employment is a major factor. After all, the weekly cost of fuel may very well be the difference between full-time employment and being paid benefits for being out of work".