The government has announced 300,000 new work experience and training placements over the next three years, aiming to help young people build lasting careers and tackle the rising number of those not in employment, education, or training (Neets).
Major employers back the initiative
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the placements are backed by some of Britain’s biggest employers, including Manchester and Gatwick airports. The opportunities will span sectors from construction to hospitality, as well as health and social care, and are intended to reach young people across the country.
Addressing the 'lost generation' risk
The announcement comes a day after a report warned of the risk of a “lost generation,” with figures showing the number of 16 to 24-year-old Neets rising to over a million. Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn, who led the review, noted that lack of work experience is “the single most-cited barrier to work amongst young people.”
His report stated that work experience is often an afterthought in schools, with students frequently left to find their own placements. Those without strong networks are more likely to miss out, he added.
Bridging the experience gap
Mr Milburn said the “first rung of the career ladder has thinned” and is now “simply out of reach” for many young people, creating a Catch-22 where employers demand experience but opportunities have narrowed.
The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed that the placements will include work experience and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) – short government-funded schemes offering training, hands-on experience, and a guaranteed job interview for jobseekers on benefits.
Government's commitment
Mr McFadden said: “The evidence is clear, give young people real work experience and the chances of them building a lasting career increase dramatically. That’s why we are creating 300,000 new placements, backed by some of Britain’s biggest employers, to give young people the skills, confidence and connections they need to get on. This generation deserves every opportunity to succeed, and this Government is determined to deliver it.”
