Hundreds of young people across the North East are set to benefit from a pioneering new apprenticeship brokerage service after the region secured a place in a national pilot programme designed to boost apprenticeship take-up and tackle youth unemployment.
Led by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the initiative is expected to attract up to £10 million of investment into the region over the next three years and generate 1,500 additional apprenticeship starts by March 2029. At least 375 of those opportunities will be targeted at young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The North East is among the first areas selected for the Department for Work and Pensions' new apprenticeship brokerage programme. Announced by the Chancellor in September, the scheme will be rolled out across England’s Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities and aims to create stronger pathways into work for young people.
The region-wide service will act as a central hub for apprenticeship opportunities, helping applicants who narrowly miss out on vacancies to quickly access alternative roles and training pathways. Rather than losing talented candidates, employers will be able to recruit from a wider pool of apprenticeship-ready applicants.
Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
"There is no shortage of talent in the North East, but too many young people still struggle to find a route into work.
"We're changing that.
"This new apprenticeship clearing service will make sure when one door closes, another opens.
“If you miss out on one apprenticeship opportunity, we will help you find the next one as quickly as possible.”
The brokerage service will introduce dedicated apprenticeship specialists, sector-specific talent pools, employer readiness support and new approaches to matching young people with apprenticeship vacancies.
Christopher Eynon, North East Mayoral Strategic Authority Cabinet Member for Home of Real Opportunity and Leader of Sunderland City Council, welcomed the announcement. He said:
“Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for young people to work and train, gaining valuable employment experience and developing new skills at the same time.
“We have an extremely dynamic economy in the North East with a wide range of different skill sets that our employers need. This new approach is about bringing those opportunities together.
"If a young person misses out on one apprenticeship, we should be doing everything we can to help them find the next one, understanding the challenges, and making it easier for the small businesses that are the life blood of our economy to harness the potential they have to offer."
The North East has been earmarked by the DWP as part of the programme’s Wave Two rollout, scheduled to launch in April 2027.
Initially, the pilot will focus on housing, leisure and tourism, and advanced manufacturing sectors, aligning with regional economic growth priorities and workforce demand.
Alongside the brokerage service, young people can now access a new online resource designed to improve their chances of securing an apprenticeship. The free apprentice ready toolkit provides support with applications, interviews and assessments and has been developed in partnership with young people, employers, schools and colleges.
Regional leaders believe the combination of targeted support, employer engagement and clearer routes into apprenticeships could significantly improve career prospects for young people while helping employers address ongoing skills shortages.
Image credit: iStock
