BITC’s response to Alan Milburn’s interim report on youth unemployment

Alan Milburn’s interim report on Young People and Work[i] lays out the scale and urgency of the UK’s youth unemployment challenge.

With latest ONS data showing over one million young people are now not in education, employment or training[ii], and warnings from the report of a potential “lost generation” without action, this is a strong reminder that the system is not working for too many young people today.

Responding to the report’s publication, Ola Kolade, Employment and Skills Director at Business in the Community, said:

This interim report is a timely and important assessment of the challenges facing young people across the UK. The warning of a potential ‘lost generation’ reflects the reality that too many young people are unable to access and stay in work. Business has a vital role to play in changing this. Employers can help rebuild the first rung of the career ladder by creating accessible entry-level roles, investing in apprenticeships, and increasing pre-employment work encounters.

But meaningful change will require a whole-system approach that brings together employers, education, health, and welfare. Through BITC’s Pride in Place programme[iii] and Opening Doors campaign[iv], we are working with businesses and key stakeholders to improve access into the world of work. Further, BITC’s Talent Unlocked programme[v], in partnership with Youth Futures Foundation, specifically focuses on young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, to enable more young people to fulfil their potential.

ENDS

Notes to editor

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