Employment: Young People

(asked on 9th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support the Government is providing to help create employment opportunities for people aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training but do not claim universal credit.


Answered by
Mims Davies Portrait
Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 12th March 2021

DWP is leading cross-government collaboration to identify and promote opportunities in sectors with immediate or growing demand for jobs, including for Young People. DWP launched the Job Help website in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which offers job search advice, showcases recruiting sectors and signposts to job vacancies to help people successfully find work. In addition, the package of support put in place by this Government, including the furlough scheme, has protected many jobs during the pandemic, including for young people.

This Government’s Plan for Jobs is delivering a comprehensive package of support for young people, which DWP is providing in collaboration with the Department for Education, schools and other partners. This means that whatever their needs, young people can find the right support, education or training that will ultimately lead to sustained employment.

DWP is committed to providing targeted support for young people, including those who are still claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance. This support offer involves basic skills training, traineeships, apprenticeships, work experience and Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs).

For young people not accessing benefits, the DWP Youth Offer includes Youth Hubs co-located and co-delivered with our network of external partners to offer a range of skills and work related services to help young people access the labour market. Some Youth Hubs will offer a drop-in service for all young people (subject to location capacity), at which point they will be offered advice and signposting to opportunities.

In addition, DWP Support for Schools is a demand-led programme for young people aged 12-18 at risk of becoming NEET or might face disadvantages when looking for work. It facilitates school-to-work transition, training and further study for young people better suited to vocational qualifications, such as traineeships or apprenticeships, instead of a traditional degree, to help them fulfil their career ambitions.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be introduced in 2022 and a portion of the Fund will be targeted to people most in need through bespoke employment and skills programmes that are tailored to local need. This will support improved employment outcomes for those who face labour market barriers, including Young People. To help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022, the Government is providing an additional £220m funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF). This Fund aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and innovative new approaches, and will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.

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