UK retailers have partnered with the government on an initiative to secure 100,000 jobs for young people classified as not in employment, education or training (NEET) during the current parliament.
The initiative was announced at the Retail Jobs Summit in Parliament and introduces a new work experience programme that addresses youth joblessness, with retail continuing to serve as the UK’s largest private sector employer.
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The industry and its wider supply chain currently account for close to a quarter of all youth employment across the country.
The partnership follows an interim report on Young People and Work led by former Minister of State for Health Alan Milburn, which found that nearly one million young people—around one in seven—currently fall into the NEET category.
The report warned that this figure could rise beyond 1.25 million within five years without intervention.
The new scheme, called Opening Shift, was developed by retailers alongside the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with contribution from Marc Bolland.
More than 40 retailers are involved in the development and rollout of the programme, with 11,305 placements already pledged.
Under the programme, retailers will offer placements of two to four weeks to NEETs aged 18 to 24, who will continue to receive Universal Credit for the duration.
Each participant will be guaranteed an interview at the end of their placement, with retailers aiming to convert as many as possible into paid roles where positions are available.
The scheme carries a target of helping 100,000 NEETs into retail employment by 2029.
The DWP will set up a nationwide referral system through Jobcentres to connect NEETs with available placements, which will run between 16 and 35 hours per week.
Each participant will also be assigned a workplace “buddy” to provide support throughout the scheme.
The programme adds to existing DWP-backed retail initiatives under the Youth Guarantee, as well as partnerships with Movement to Work, the King’s Trust and Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD).
UK 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 is not right.
“It is 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. Opportunities like these can make all the difference, helping young people gain the confidence, skills and connections they need to get started in work.”
