As we head into summer, many young people will be entering the job market for the first time – generally in low paid or part time roles.

Here in the glorious South West of England, many of our young folks will enter the tourism and hospitality industries.

For them, it will be the opportunity to get valuable hands on experience of work, dealing with people in a commercial setting and seeing something of the world via a kitchen door or restaurant table.

So, apart from earning a few extra pounds over the 3 months of summer, what else will our leaders and workers of tomorrow take away from their first summer of work?

Will it be a positive experience for them to take those first steps into the world of work?

For some, this certainly will be the case. There are some very good businesses down here, providing excellent opportunities for young people to gain new skills, hone them and leave with fond memories of a job well done.

For those looking to spend their time with one of the thousands of independent small businesses in the area, money may not be their greatest reward, but an opportunity to learn from someone who has put their heart and soul into a venture will be.

Many small business owners have rejected the corporate, soulless exploitation of “human resources” (what are we, animated lumps of coal?) and have chosen ‘another way’.

They may not be able to pay high wages, but they can provide something far more valuable to those youngsters willing and able to see the bigger picture – an alternative to the established path through life.

Independence, self reliance, resourcefulness, resilience, persistence, optimism, courage.

These are not skills that can be learnt on a 3 day leadership development course.

They are character traits that can only be acquired through experience or passed on from those who exhibit them on a daily basis.

In the bigger picture, they are far more valuable than a few extra pounds in the pocket over the summer.