“Retail and its supply chain account for almost a quarter of all youth employment, making our industry uniquely placed to support young people through flexible, entry-level roles and clear routes for progression.
“But this first step on the ladder is cracking under the weight of government-imposed costs and regulations.”
Dickinson added: “Youth unemployment is a challenge that government and business must tackle together.
“If government wants more young people in work, it must create the conditions that allow businesses to hire, train and develop the next generation.
“Retailers stand ready to work in partnership with government through a joint retail-government taskforce to strengthen routes into employment, remove barriers to hiring and help more young people take that crucial first step into the world of work.”
REACTION:
Ashwin Prasad, CEO of Tesco UK:
“Retail is one of the UK’s great engines of opportunity and is uniquely placed to help tackle the challenge of youth unemployment and rising numbers of young people not in education, employment or training.
“Our industry gives millions of young people a first step into the world of work, with opportunities to develop skills, gain experience and build long-term careers, regardless of background.
“We firmly believe that, if Government wants to expand opportunity and reducing economic inactivity among young people, retail can and should be at the heart of any solution.”
Anthony Hemmerdinger, senior vice president and managing director at Boots UK & ROI:
“I’m passionate about the role the retail industry can play in supporting youth employment and social mobility.
“As someone who started my career in retail at 16 working in stores, I know just how important retailers are in providing young people with opportunities to experience the world of work and build their confidence and skills.
“Boots has a strong track record in investing in youth employment, work experience and training, including through our apprenticeships programmes and longstanding partnership with The King’s Trust.
“With a supportive government policy framework, we could offer even more opportunities to young people in the future.”
Karen O’Rourke, managing director at H&M UKIE:
“Too many young people are still being locked out of opportunities, and at H&M we see firsthand how important it is to create clear, inclusive pathways into work.
“Retail has a unique role to play in opening those doors, which is why we fully support the BRC’s call for stronger partnership with government to remove barriers and expand access to meaningful jobs.
“By working together, we can help more young people build the skills and confidence needed for long-term, sustainable careers.”
Ryan McDonnell, chief executive officer at Lidl GB:
“At Lidl GB, we see the incredible potential of young people every single day – whether they are starting out on our shop floors, in our warehouses, or in office-based roles.
“They are the future of British retail. Since 2024, our degree apprenticeship scheme has been a shining example of this, offering young colleagues the chance to study, earn a degree, and springboard straight into their careers.
“We’ve always been proud to offer a brilliant launching pad, but there is a massive opportunity for the retail sector and the Government to team up to do even more.
“By working together and introducing new initiatives, we’re committed to unlocking new doors, championing social mobility, and giving the next generation the ultimate head start in work.”
Rob Swain, general manager at KFC UK&I:
“At KFC, we see the reality behind the statistics every day. Hospitality is far more than a first job or a fallback option – it’s a place where young people build confidence, develop lifelong skills and discover their potential.
“Through opportunities in our restaurants and our pre employment programmes for NEET young people Hatch in collaboration with KFC Youth Foundation, we’re helping young people gain experience, access employment and take meaningful steps towards their futures.
“We are keen to work with government and BRC to bring more young people into our restaurants to open up their opportunity to thrive.”
Carina Hummel, UK managing director for optics at Specsavers:
“At Specsavers, we’ve seen firsthand how retail and healthcare businesses like ours can be a genuine launchpad for young people – not just a first job, but the start of a genuine career.
“We offer a number of early career opportunities for more than 1,200 youngsters a year, including around 700 pre-registration trainees who join Specsavers as graduate optometrists.
“Our apprenticeship programme has grown steadily since 2016 and now supports 500 to 600 apprentices every year in a variety of roles, from optical assistant and lab technician to clinical leadership.
“Around 90% of those apprentices go on to permanent roles with us.
“This isn’t about filling vacancies; it’s about developing the next generation of talent to help strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality community eye and hearing care to our customers for years to come.
“Specsavers recently launched its first Audiology Graduate Programme, offering newly qualified audiologists and hearing aid dispensers a structured 18 month pathway within its hearing care practices. That’s why we’re proud to sign this letter.
“But ambition alone won’t solve the entry-level jobs crisis.
“Employers like us need government to create the conditions that allow us to reach young people and build the pipeline of talent that our businesses, and our customers, depend on.”
Fran Barnes, CEO at Horticultural Trades Association:
“If you make it more expensive to employ people and continue heaping costs onto businesses, the natural conclusion is that fewer people will be employed.
“We warned about this with increases in employers’ National Insurance with only a few months’ notice, alongside rises in the National Living Wage, changes to business taxation and more regulation, including EPR.
“SMEs are the lifeblood of the economy and businesses are crying out for people who want a career in our sector, but that is not the same as being able to afford to employ them.
“If SMEs are given the right environment and can operate with certainty and confidence then they can be a key part of the solution – as the engine room of jobs, skills and opportunity.”
