More than a million young people in the UK are now classified as Neets – not in employment, education or training – the highest level in over 12 years. Roughly one in eight 16- to 24-year-olds is affected, and a government-commissioned review last month warned that without action, the figure could climb to one in six within five years. In response, Marks & Spencer is launching a new paid training scheme aimed at this exact demographic, creating 1,000 places across the UK and Ireland over the next 18 months.
The scheme, which requires no degree, offers six months of training with successful participants then receiving further training to become a store manager. M&S said it was designed to tackle the “growing youth unemployment challenge” and provide a ladder into work for young people who have been left behind. The review, led by former minister Alan Milburn, warned of a potential “lost generation” and found that job and career opportunities for those entering employment were “not growing, they’re shrinking”. It cited multiple factors behind the crisis: the Covid-19 pandemic, smartphones, health issues, and a sharp drop in the number of entry-level positions. High Street retailers and hospitality businesses such as restaurants, cafes and pubs have traditionally offered many young people their first experience of work.
“M&S launches 1,000 paid traineeships as youth Neet numbers hit 12-year high of over 1 million.”
“We want more young people to see retail not just as a first job, but as a career with real opportunity, real responsibility and real progression,” said M&S retail director Thinus Keeve. “This programme is about opening doors for the next generation and giving talented young people the chance to thrive.”
The government has also taken steps to address the issue. Over the weekend, it announced a partnership with industry and trade unions examining how artificial intelligence affects entry-level roles, along with advice on redesigning jobs while maintaining routes into the workforce. It said 400,000 students in disadvantaged schools would receive AI and tech training to help them into further education, training and employment. Last year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that young people who had been out of a job or education for 18 months would be offered a guaranteed paid work placement to prepare them for full-time work. On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to make technology work “for everyone, not just the privileged few”, as the government trials an AI assistant for jobseekers – described as a “jobcentre in your pocket” – providing round-the-clock guidance on career development and job applications.
Whether these measures will be enough to reverse the rise in youth disengagement remains to be seen. With one in eight young people already Neet and warnings of a lost generation growing louder, the pressure is on both businesses and the government to deliver results.