Almost one million young people will benefit from new learning and employment opportunities under a major £820 million funding package announced today.
The investment will create 350,000 new training and workplace opportunities in sectors such as construction, health and social care, and hospitality, aimed at young people on Universal Credit. These opportunities will provide on-the-job skills, employer networks, and CV and interview coaching, breaking down barriers to employment and helping every young person reach their potential.
In total, 900,000 young people looking for work will receive a dedicated work support session, followed by four weeks of intensive support. They will be referred to one of six pathways:
- Work
- Work experience
- Apprenticeship
- Wider training
- Learning
- Workplace training programme with guaranteed interview
As part of the programme, participants will receive six weeks of training, work experience, and a guaranteed job interview, giving them a vital first step towards meaningful employment and supporting economic growth as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
Additionally, 55,000 young people will benefit from a government-backed guaranteed job, rolling out from Spring 2026 in high-need areas including Birmingham & Solihull, Greater Manchester, East Midlands, Hertfordshire & Essex, Central & East Scotland, and Southwest & Southeast Wales. Over 1,000 young people are expected to start jobs in the first six months, with local employers providing fully funded wages and wraparound support.
The initiative also includes expanding Youth Hubs to every local area in Great Britain, bringing the total to over 360 centres offering CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice, and careers guidance.
Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary, said:
“Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.
“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.
“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
Recent figures show nearly one million young people are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) – a 26% increase since before the pandemic. This package represents a major intervention to reverse that trend and ensure no young person is left behind.
The plan builds on wider measures, including:
- A £34 million investment to identify at-risk young people earlier using a new Risk of NEET indicator tool.
- Automatic enrolment pilots for post-16 education or training.
- A Jobs Guarantee for 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit for 18 months, offering six months of paid work at minimum wage with wraparound support.
The Government’s National Youth Strategy, shaped by insights from 14,000 young people, will set out a long-term vision for youth policy across the UK.
Image credit: iStock
