Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support retail employers to recruit young people who are not in education, employment or training before the Government responds to the final report of the Young people and work review.

This Government is committed to backing young people and bringing down the number of those who are not in education, employment or training.

We are investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. Through this investment, businesses are encouraged to recruit new talent through additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant, £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers and a fully funded six-month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds. Employers are also not required to pay Employer National Insurance Contributions for employees under-21 and for apprentices under-25, on earnings up to £50,270.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced an ambition to create 100,000 new jobs in the retail sector for young people by 2029, supporting more young people to take their first step into work. This is a significant commitment from one of the UK's largest employment sectors and an important contribution towards the Government's ambition that every young person has the opportunity to build the skills, experience and connections needed to move into work.

As part of this ambition, BRC is launching 'Opening Shift' a new joint DWP and BRC work experience programme for 18–24-year-old jobseekers. ‘Opening Shift’ will provide retail work experience, workplace support and interview experience, helping young people to build skills, confidence and experience employers are looking for. The DWPs’ Strategic Relationship Team (SRT) works with national employers and the BRC to support the sector’s recruitment and skills needs and help create routes into employment. This includes creating opportunities through Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), work experience, the Youth Guarantee and targeted recruitment activity, helping young people and other jobseekers move into sustainable work.

Recruitment Consultants based in Jobcentres complement this activity at a local level, providing employers with a single point of contact and helping them navigate the Department’s wider employment offer. Working with Jobcentre Plus teams, Recruitment Consultants develop an understanding of employers’ workforce needs, connect them to the most appropriate support and help match suitable candidates to available opportunities, providing a joined-up and responsive local recruitment service.