Government's Jobs Guarantee turns promise into paycheques for young people
|
First cohort of young people start work through the Government's
Jobs Guarantee, delivering on the Prime Minister's priority to
tackle youth unemployment Scheme aims to create opportunity for
those furthest from the jobs market and is backed by major
businesses, including Boots and OCS Over 90,000 fully funded jobs
to be created by 2029 through the Jobs Guarantee, a key part of the
Government's £2.5 billion drive to tackle youth unemployment The
first young...Request free trial
The first young people supported by a new Government programme for the long-term unemployed have started their jobs. The Jobs Guarantee scheme offers a direct route into work for all 1824-year-olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. Roles on offer are matched to the individual's skillset, with the government fully funding up to 25 hours paid work for six months to get individuals into the labour market. More than 90,000 young people will be supported into work by the scheme in the next three years, with the first cohort of young people having already started positions at retail giant Boots. Recognising that the longer people are out of work the more difficult it is to start working again, young people on the scheme get bespoke support to tackle barriers from confidence building to skills training on the job. This means young people arrive at their new employer work ready and then continue to thrive. The Jobs Guarantee is the latest intervention in the Government's ongoing, extensive employment support for young people, backed by £2.5 billion investment. It marks a major step in the Prime Minister's drive to get more young people into work and bring hope to more than one million young people who are not earning or learning a rise of 248,000 between 2021-2024. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited Boots to meet some of the first cohort of young people starting work through the Jobs Guarantee in administrative, retail and warehouse support roles. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: "Young people want to get on in life but for too long too many have been denied that opportunity. The Jobs Guarantee helps change that. Seeing the first young people start their roles brings to life what this scheme is about: real jobs, proper wages, and a genuine route into a career. As we roll this out to tens of thousands more young people across the country, we're backing the next generation to succeed and backing British businesses to grow with the talent they need." The Jobs Guarantee has been rolled out in areas with some of the highest levels of youth unemployment:
Later this year the scheme will be expanded to all eligible 18-24 year olds who are on Universal Credit and have been looking for work for 18 months. Anthony Hemmerdinger, Managing Director of Boots UK and Ireland, said: We're pleased to create opportunities for young people to secure work placements in our stores, offices and warehouses through the Jobs Guarantee. Boots has a strong track record in supporting young people through our graduate schemes, work experience programmes, apprenticeships and youth employability partnership with The King's Trust. We firmly believe that retail can play an important role in supporting young people to develop the confidence, experience, and skills that can shape their working lives. Simon Smithson, Director of Youth Services, Ingeus "We're delighted to be delivering Jobs Guarantee in the East Midlands. This programme represents a significant opportunity to help more young people access employment, develop new skills and secure brighter futures. The commitment shown by employers such as Boots demonstrates the power of partnership. By bringing together employers, communities and support organisations, we can create high-quality opportunities that benefit individuals, businesses and the wider regional economy." Local delivery partners will work with employers to match young people into roles and provide ongoing support to help placements succeed. The Jobs Guarantee is part of the Government's wider £2.5 billion youth employment investment which will support almost one million young people and open up 500,000 opportunities to earn or learn over three years spreading opportunity to every postcode. It comes alongside other incentives for business worth up to £8,000 for eligible young people and the biggest reforms in a generation to the apprenticeship system by putting more funding behind young people and tackling the 40% drop in apprenticeship starts over the past decade. Notes to editors:
Supportive quotes Louise Goodlad, Direct of Delivery (Scotland), King's Trust said: "The Jobs Guarantee reflects what The King's Trust has long believed: that young people need both skills and opportunities to succeed, and that tackling youth unemployment requires government, employers and charities working together. "The King's Trust has begun delivering the first phase of the Jobs Guarantee programme in Central and East Scotland, and we are seeing first-hand the determination of young people who want to work as they seize the opportunity to gain experience and develop their skills. The Jobs Guarantee will create opportunities for young people at greatest risk of long-term unemployment while helping employers access the talent they need to grow." Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO of Youth Employment UK, said: "We welcome seeing the Jobs Guarantee move from policy into real, paid opportunities for young people. For those who have been out of work for a long time, a good job can provide not only an income, but the experience, confidence and connections that help build a longer-term career. This year's Youth Voice Census data, being released on 10 September, shows that 75% of young people think paid work experience would help them get a job a powerful reminder of just how important opportunities like these can be." Sarah Williams, Chief People Officer, OCS said: Getting that first job is hard, and the Jobs Guarantee Pilot is about making it a bit easier. Young people joining us on our client sites get real xperience, new skills and a proper look at the range of careers here at OCS; with clear routes into permanent roles and apprenticeships. The pilot delivery is working well and we are fully committed to rolling it out nationally. East Midlands Chamber, Chief Executive, Scott Knowles said: "Getting more young people into work and equipped with the skills employers need is essential to driving growth and the Jobs Guarantee scheme is an initiative I welcome for addressing that. "With so many under 24's not in Education, Employment or Training - NEET - supportive approaches like the Jobs Guarantee scheme that bridge the needs of employers with provision of opportunities for young people and a focus on upskilling during employment are a forward step. Tackling the skills gap, tackling youth unemployment and getting people into roles with the skills to thrive is what we want to see." Daniel Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Hertfordshire being chosen as an initial rollout region for the Jobs Guarantee is a huge vote of confidence for our local economy. While major UK businesses are leading the first phase, the real transformational power of this programme lies within our vibrant SME sector. Fully funding 25 hours a week significantly mitigates the financial risk for growing local businesses and gives young people a genuine pathway into work. The Chamber's message to Hertfordshire employers is clear. Take advantage of this support, back local young talent and help build your future workforce."
Supportive quotes from SMEs delivering the Jobs Guarantee
A spokesperson for Matlock Ghost Emporium, said: "This initiative is a true win-win for independent businesses and young jobseekers alike. Bringing early-career talent into our studio gives our production capacity a real boost, allowing us to expand what we do while actively investing in the next generation of makers. Watching a young person build their practical skills and grow in workplace confidence over six months is immensely rewarding, and we'd strongly encourage other small businesses to consider hosting a placement." Antony Rhodes, Arc Communications, said: Taking part in the Jobs Guarantee has been a really positive experience for our business. We have welcomed four young people into our office through the scheme, and they have already made a noticeable contribution to the team. The scheme has given us the opportunity to bring in enthusiastic young people, provide them with valuable workplace experience and develop their skills, while also giving our existing team the opportunity to support and mentor the next generation. We have been particularly impressed by the attitude and willingness to learn that the young people have shown. They have quickly become part of the team and are already adding value to the business. We would definitely encourage other employers to consider getting involved. The Jobs Guarantee provides a fantastic opportunity to give young people a genuine start in the workplace while benefiting your own organisation.
At Total Insight Theatre, we've always believed in starting with what young people bring to the table their ideas, perspectives, creativity and strengths rather than focusing on how much experience they might have on paper. The Jobs Guarantee has enabled us to welcome six young people into meaningful roles across our organisation, and they're very much part of the team. We're already benefiting from the fresh thinking, energy and different perspectives they bring to our work, while they gain paid experience and develop their skills. As an organisation that works with young people every day, having young people woven into the fabric of our own team really matters to us. I'd encourage other employers to get involved there's such genuine value on both sides. Simone Connolly, CEO, FareShare Midlands said Our experience of the Youth Job Guarantee has been overwhelmingly positive. We currently have three young people on placements at our Nottingham site, giving them the opportunity to build confidence, develop practical workplace skills and gain valuable experience in a busy warehouse environment. The programme builds on the employability support we already provide through SkillsShare, helping young people who may face barriers to work take positive steps towards employment. We understand that FareShare Midlands was the amongst the first organisations in the country to offer these placements, which we are very proud of. Based on our experience so far, we will certainly take part again and hope to offer further placements across all three of our sites in Birmingham, Leicester, and Nottingham.
|