Young people will have better access to apprenticeships in shops and restaurants in a major multi-million pound drive to tackle record levels of youth unemployment
Young people will have better access to apprenticeships in shops and restaurants in a major multi-million pound drive to tackle youth unemployment.
Keir Starmer will on Monday announce a massive £725million package to help 50,000 youngsters get access to apprenticeships.
Under the plans, the Government will fully fund apprenticeships for under 25s in small and medium-sized businesses.
The package will also include £140million for a pilot where mayors will be able to connect young people – especially those not in education, employment or training – with thousands of apprenticeship opportunities at local employers.
A new wave of foundation apprenticeships in sectors such as retail and hospitality sectors will also be supported. And new short courses in cutting-edge areas including AI, engineering and digital skills will begin rolling out from April 2026.
READ MORE: Young people on benefits to be helped into jobs with £820 million boost
The Government is aiming to reverse a decline in the number of young people starting apprenticeships, which has fallen by almost 40% in the past decade.
The Prime Minister has vowed to put apprenticeships on the same level as university degrees. Mr Starmer said: “For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university.
“That narrow view has held back opportunity and created barriers we need to break. It’s time to change the way apprenticeships are viewed and to put them on an equal footing with university.”
It comes after the Government announced an £820million package to help young people on benefits get job opportunities.
The cash includes funding for training and work experience in construction, hospitality, and health and social care for 350,000 young people on Universal Credit.
DWP Secretary Pat McFadden said: “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.”
The Government is also expected to set out its national youth strategy this week.
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Mr McFadden said young people had “not had a good enough deal” in areas such as housing and employment. He said: “Young people do need a better deal. They need a Government that believes in them.”