John Hyde, Docklands Newspaper, 4th November 2009

Big businesses have been told they have a duty to support disadvantaged youngsters into their top positions.

East London charity City Gateway brought together more than 40 firms in Downing Street last week to spell out their responsibilities to the local community.

They heard how the charity has set up mentoring and apprenticeship schemes with some of Canary Wharf's biggest institutions.

Those link-ups have helped dozens of young people aspire to greater things than they could have hoped for. But with 23 per cent of Tower Hamlets' working age population having no formal qualifications there is still work to do.

Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Canning Town, told business leaders they must look locally to replace retiring staff they brought with them when they relocated to the Docklands.

He said: "The support you give to City Gateway to mentor and to give aspiration is so important I cannot tell you how critical it is.

"You're providing role models and guides, getting kids off the streets, off of drugs, out of gangs and into an environment where they can express themselves and develop."

The likes of Canary Wharf Group, Credit Suisse and State Street were all present to hear the work of City Gateway in dealing with increasing national youth NEET (not in education, employment or training).

Across the UK the number of NEET 18-24-year-olds has risen by 100,000 in the past year but the charity's work has seen figures halved in Tower Hamlets.

"Our work is having a real impact on individual lives and has started to turn statistics around," added Eddie Stride, City Gateway chief executive.