The Government has confirmed an additional £45 million in funding to expand support for young people not currently in education, employment, or training (NEETs).

This investment extends the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme for a further year and forms part of wider plans to introduce a national Youth Guarantee. The aim is to ensure that all 18–21-year-olds are given the opportunity to either “earn or learn”.

The Challenge

According to recent data from the Office for National Statistics, there are 948,000 young people across the UK currently classed as NEET.

Factors contributing to this rise in recent years include:

  • Disruption to education during the pandemic.

  • Limited availability of mental health support.

  • Shortages in job opportunities and skills development.

Young people in this position often face additional barriers such as poor health, a lack of qualifications, or coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. The long-term effects can include lower wages, higher unemployment, and poorer mental wellbeing.

The Trailblazer Schemes

To address the issue, eight local trailblazer projects were launched in Spring 2024. These pilots are testing new methods to identify those most at risk of becoming NEET and connecting them with local apprenticeships, training schemes, or job placements.

Insights from these pilot programmes will inform how the full Youth Guarantee is rolled out nationally.

Why It Matters for Employers

Although designed to help young people, these schemes could also create advantages for businesses, such as:

  • Providing access to motivated young people keen to start their careers.

  • Potential reforms to apprenticeships that could make them more practical and beneficial for employers.

  • Support for businesses taking part in trailblazer schemes, including help with recruitment, training, and mentoring.

If your business could benefit from enthusiastic entry-level recruits, it may be worthwhile keeping an eye on local programmes. Reviewing whether apprenticeships or structured training placements could fit into your workforce planning could also open up new opportunities.

For small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, this initiative could make it easier to bring in and develop young talent while benefiting from government-backed support.

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