A TEENAGE school-leaver has told of her struggle to get into the workplace.
Megan Ayes, 15, is desperate to start a career but feels the system is letting her and other young people down.
Megan, of Dent Road, north Hull, has handed out more than 30 CVs but has been told her age creates an insurance problem, even though she was in the same year at Kelvin Hall School as many 16-year-old friends who have found work.
Now Hull North MP Diana Johnson has said she will do what can be done to help people in the same "ridiculous" situation.
Megan said: "My mind's not fully set on what I want to do, so I thought I could get a job and decide next year.
"I've handed out my CVs everywhere I possibly can and everybody says the same thing about insurance regulations, which I can understand.
"But they had no problems when I was doing work experience."
Megan spent some time at a hairdressing salon two years ago to boost her employability.
But now she is concerned businesses are exploiting young people for free labour.
"When you leave school, you should be able to get a job," she said.
"Companies are fine with young people working for free but as soon as you want to get a job, insurance is suddenly a problem.
"They can't have had that much of a problem with it for me to have done work experience."
Megan is not 16 until the end of August but would like to start earning before then.
She would like the authorities to step in and make things easier for people in her position.
"The Government should make it easier for younger people to get a job after they leave school, because otherwise they will be out of work for a long time before they're 16 – it's a disadvantage, really," she said.
"I've seen vacancies, contacted the companies and explained the situation and they've said no because of the insurance issue.
"Most companies also want workplace experience but you've got to find somewhere that will give you a job before you can get it."
Labour MP Ms Johnson said she would be happy to offer support.
She said: "Megan should be commended on her efforts to get into work. It's tough enough for Hull youngsters to find work at the moment, without additional hurdles being put in their way.
"People under the age of 16 have had part-time Saturday jobs for as long as I can remember. I certainly did. This seems ridiculous.
"As Megan's a Hull North constituent, if she contacts my office I'll be more than happy to take up her case with insurers to see if we can get a common sense solution."
