The UK Government has unveiled a major employment initiative aimed at reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training, warning that benefits could be cut for those who do not participate.
Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden announced on Sunday that 350,000 new training and job opportunities will be offered to young people on universal credit, particularly in construction, care, and hospitality.
He stressed that while the programme is designed to support young people into work, those who refuse to engage without good reason could face sanctions.
The initiative is part of Labour’s broader “youth guarantee”, funded with £820m announced in last month’s budget.
Under the plan, every eligible 18- to 21-year-old who has been on universal credit and seeking work for 18 months will be offered a six-month paid work placement beginning in the spring. Up to 55,000 young people are expected to benefit in the first phase.
The government says jobs will be targeted in regions with some of the greatest employment needs, including Greater Manchester, the East Midlands, Birmingham and Solihull, Hertfordshire and Essex, central and eastern Scotland, and parts of Wales.
McFadden also confirmed that 900,000 young people will receive a dedicated work support session, followed by four weeks of intensive coaching to help them secure training, work experience, or a job.
Speaking on the media, he said the government expects young people to take up these opportunities: “This is an offer, but it’s also an expectation.”
However, Ben Harrison of the Work Foundation warned that the effectiveness of the programme will depend on the quality of the jobs offered. He said pushing young people into insecure, low-paid sectors under threat of sanctions could damage long-term prospects, especially as nearly half of young people classified as Neet are disabled.
The Department for Work and Pensions reinforced that sanctions would apply only when participants fail to engage without good reason.
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