With the numbers of those out of work growing by the day and many of them young people, a new government task force should be set up as a matter of urgency, London tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg has said.

Richard Churchill, a business advisory partner at the firm, said: “The government has highlighted that 18 to 24-year old’s are going to be hit hard in terms of jobs. If we don’t act now they will be left behind. Many of these could be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow but they need access to funding and guidance.”

Mr Churchill said that it was vitally important to the economy to encourage entrepreneurs to s...