The two- to four-week placements aim to give young people practical experience, build confidence and provide a first step towards paid employment.
The initiative comes as former health secretary Alan Milburn warns that the number of young people not in work, education or training could rise from 1 million to 1.25 million over the next five years without further government intervention.
Milburn, who is leading a review into Britain’s crisis in youth worklessness, welcomed the retailers’ initiative, saying too many young people were stuck in a vicious cycle of “no experience, no job”, leaving them shut out of employment opportunities.
Sheila Flavell, CBE, COO of FDM Group: “The Milburn Review estimates the cumulative annual cost of 1 million NEET young people at £125 billion. This is more than the UK’s annual spend on education.”
“Getting this population back in the workforce is critical for the future of the UK economy. The government must work alongside industry to reengage young people who are NEET by facilitating alternate pathways into their employment.”
Incentivising businesses through subsidies to train and hire young people can be an effective way forward for the government. It encourages industry investment in the skills development of people who are NEET, providing them with gainful employment which in turn contributes to the UK economy.”
