Jessica O'ConnorThe CIPD has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme with an additional £45m investment but warned that stronger measures are needed to address persistently high youth unemployment.
The professional body for HR and people development said the latest figures on young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) show little improvement, underlining the need for bolder policy action.
The CIPD has long argued that apprenticeships and employer-backed training programmes are critical to providing clear career pathways for young people, particularly those at risk of being left behind in the labour market.
Lizzie Crowley, senior skills adviser at the CIPD, said: “We welcome the announcement that the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme will be extended by another year with an additional investment of £45 million, but bolder action is required.
“The latest NEET figures show no improvement, with stubbornly high numbers persisting. The government should urgently revisit the case for an Apprenticeship Guarantee, ensuring every young person has a clear pathway into a high quality, employer-backed apprenticeship opportunity.
“The case for stronger action to support the training and employment of young people is further underlined in light of measures to be introduced in the Employment Rights Bill, which could mean employers are less likely to take a chance on young workers with limited experience and more development needs.”
