BUSINESS bosses demand today that schools should end the “national embarrassment” of youth unemployment and skills gaps by giving pupils more careers advice.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) argues business and education are “worlds apart” when it comes to careers advice.

Schools must give lessons on recruitment, interview techniques and put students into contact with local firms, the business leaders suggest.

Today’s report, published ahead of the latest unemployment figures, also pressed for work skills such as communication and computer literacy to be embedded in the school curriculum.

However, NUT deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney argued: “It is government policy and cuts which have stifled careers advices and rendered 14-19 education a muddle.

“It was the coalition government, rather than schools, which chose to strip out work experience and work-related learning from the national curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds.

“The government should urgently review the availability of independent, impartial careers advice and guidance. It was their abolition of Connexions which contributed greatly to the current parlous state of careers services.”