Alesha Dixon & Akala are giving careers advice on YouTube

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge Alesha Dixon is among a group of celebrities who have helped launch a new YouTube channel to tackle the lack of careers guidance for young people.

‘The Tipping Point’ also features rapper, author and activist Akala and singer Anne-Marie.

The trio share insights into own their careers, and the careers of those around them, in a bid to raise students’ awareness of exciting and attainable careers that they may not know about.

The videos include a focus on what it takes to be Alesha Dixon’s manager and Anne-Marie's musical director. Akala also talks about learning the value of staying out of trouble at school.

The channel – a collaboration with social enterprise The Liminality Group – is a response to the lack of careers advice for children in the UK, and the lack of motivational support for children at risk of expulsion, said Liminality Group CEO, Andrez Harriot.

“Our work within the criminal justice system highlights the disproportionate number of children in custody who have been excluded from school and are now serving lengthy custodial sentences. The personal and often harrowing narratives of these children are being lost within the current discourse of youth offending and serious youth violence. Many of these children disclose that during education they had no idea about the alternative employment opportunities available to them,” he said.

The trio share insights into own their careers, and the careers of those around them, in a bid to raise students’ awareness of exciting and attainable careers that they may not know about.

The hope is that the channel will be used as an online resource by everyone from young people and teachers, to pastoral teams, parents and families, to raise awareness about non-traditional employment opportunities and help increase diversity within various organisations and industries.

“The central message for all young people who engage with The Tipping Point is clear and simple – stay in school and try to succeed there first, as this will give you the advantage. We want to create a positive attitude towards school success by inspiring a future they didn’t know existed,” said Harriot.