ONE in five teenagers could be unemployed by the time they are 21.

This bold and terrifying statement was issued in a report published yesterday by the Prince’s Trust and Sheffield University. It is one of the most troubling statistics I have read in recent times.

We are in very real danger of creating a generation of disengaged young people – the so-called lost generation – the effects of which would be extremely harmful to the UK economy for decades to come.

Particularly significant was the report’s findings that those leaving with no qualifications are twice as likely to sign on as those with qualifications.

As a nation, we are faced with many tough choices as we look to come through this recession with as little longterm damage as possible.

One key area that the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has identified is the need for the Government to introduce short-time working to maintain skilled staff within companies.

However, there is also an important role that employers can and should take to make sure that we play a role in helping those leaving schools and colleges this summer have a positive future.

It is imperative that the public and private sectors jointly face up to the grim predictions contained within this report to make sure that they do not become a bitter reality.

To do this, we need every business to seriously consider taking on an apprentice. We also need the public sector, as some of the largest employers in the North-East, to take a leadership role and commit to apprenticeship programmes.

As the chief executive of one of the region’s leading providers of apprentices, I have seen at first-hand the difference that having young, energetic people actively engaged in a learning programme while in employment can make to a company.

NECC itself has given jobs to a number of apprentices who play a full and valued role for our business.

■ James Ramsbotham is chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce.