BRITAIN’S biggest retailers are teaming up to hand 100,000 young people jobs and work experience over the next few years to help solve the crisis of those not in employment, education or training.
Household names including Tesco, Greggs, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Asda, Boots and Amazon are among more than 40 retailers backing the huge new drive.
It comes as almost one million young people in the UK are currently classed as NEET, meaning they are not in employment, education or training.
Experts, including Labour grandee Alan Milburn, who is leading a review into the issue, warn that the country faces an “economic catastrophe” and a “moral crisis”.
They fear the number of NEET young people could exceed 1.25million within five years unless urgent action is taken to help school-leavers and young adults get onto the career ladder.
Milburn warned six in ten young people classed as NEET have never had a job.
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He said: “A lack of work experience is holding back young people and is one of the biggest barriers stopping employers taking on more people.”
However, a new British Retail Consortium scheme called Opening Shift will see retailers offer two to four-week work placements to 18 to 24-year-olds struggling to find their first job.
More than 11,000 placements have already been pledged, with bosses hoping the scheme will create 100,000 jobs in retail by 2029.
Every young person who takes part will be guaranteed an interview at the end of their placement, with firms aiming to hire as many as possible where roles are available.
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The move comes despite retailers repeatedly warning they have been hit hard by rising costs, including soaring minimum wage bills, higher employer national insurance contributions and increased business rates.
Ministers hope the partnership will act as a blueprint for other industries to follow, tackling the “no experience, no job” trap that leaves so many young Brits locked out of work.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Too many young people are trapped in a vicious cycle where they need experience to get a job and need a job to get experience – leaving them stuck while the world of work drifts further out of reach. That isn’t right.”
He added: “It’s great news that retailers across the country are stepping up to offer thousands of young people the chance to get valuable work experience and a route into a job.”
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retail is coming to the rescue for tens of thousands of young people struggling to take their first steps on the career ladder.”
She added: “Too many are trapped in a no experience, no job doom loop. High-quality work experience is essential to fix this problem and Opening Shift is a major contribution to delivering it.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “This partnership will help young people to get the experience employers are looking for.”
He added: “Work experience can be life-changing, giving young people the skills, confidence and connections they need to take their first step into work.”
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Retail is already the UK’s biggest private sector employer, with the industry and its supply chain accounting for almost a quarter of all youth employment.
Bosses hope the new scheme will help thousands more young people build lasting careers, even if they start with few qualifications or little experience.