BY JACK WELCH

Whether it is empty shop premises or improving the town’s assets to attract a higher number of tourists, the present challenges which this area faces will soon become the future concerns of the younger population in the area.

However, as population figures would show, the number of young adults (20-24) who are simply migrating elsewhere outside of the area and the proportion of those over 65+ count for almost a quarter of people which live here.

A smaller workforce and larger section of those approaching retirement ultimately means problems for the local economy.

Last week saw the launch of the Ideas League scheme, sponsored by a range of organisations including #Weyforward, the Chamber of Commerce and the Big Lottery Fund.

Hosted at Weymouth Pavilion and attended by around 300 students in the borough’s secondary schools and college, as well as 90 mentors (of which I was one), we set out to build projects that could boost the area’s regeneration.

Our roles advised on the strength of group ideas and successfully pitching it to their peers.

By giving students a taste of working under pressure to devise a realistic project and developing soft skills on important qualities, like teamwork and communication, the real benefit is getting people from a young age prepared for the wider world in employment.

We may well be seeing the next generation of ideas coming alive on our high street.