North East Apprenticeship Ambassadors (NEAAN) has called for more apprenticeships to help halt the alarming rise of jobless young people.
The publication of a major Government report highlighted by former Cabinet Minister Alan Milburn, warns the UK is approaching one million young people aged 16 to 24 currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), describing the situation as a “moral crisis” and a growing economic risk.
“Young people and work” estimate the issue costs the UK £125bn a year, highlighting that apprenticeship starts among young people have slumped in recent years. (GOV.UK)
Responding to the findings, NEAAN Co-Chair, Prof. Ian Green said apprenticeships have a vital role to play in helping young people access meaningful careers.
He said: “The scale of the challenge outlined in this report is shocking. Nearly one million young people being outside education, employment or training should concern everyone but particularly impacts the North East, which has higher levels of unemployment and young people outside of education than other regions. We know so many of these young people currently classed as “NEETS” want opportunities but are struggling to access them.”
The North East has the highest proportion of NEETs in England. The Youth Futures Foundation puts regional NEET rates at 17.5%, compared to 13.0% nationally.
Ian added: “Apprenticeships provide a route into skilled employment, allowing people to earn a wage while gaining the qualifications and accreditations required for successful careers without racking up mountains of university debt.
“For businesses, apprenticeships help build a pipeline of talent, address skills shortages and invest in the future workforce. If we are serious about tackling the NEET challenge, apprenticeships must be a central part of the solution.”
The report found that six in 10 young people who are currently NEET have never had a job, warning that prolonged periods outside education or employment often have a lasting impact on earnings, confidence and wellbeing.
NEAAN Co-Chair, Jenienne Hinchcliffe, said the findings are a wake-up call for employers, education providers and policymakers alike.
She added: “This report paints a deeply concerning picture of the barriers many young people face when trying to enter the world of work.
“The North East has a history of developing talent through apprenticeships and we see every day the transformational impact they can have on people and businesses.
“Apprenticeships offer far more than skills training. They provide confidence and vital workplace experience and a pathway to careers that can appear unreachable. They also help employers develop the teams needed to compete and grow.
“We cannot afford to leave a generation of young people behind. Employers, training providers, educators and policymakers all have a role to play in ensuring more young people can access high-quality apprenticeship opportunities.”
NEAAN works with employers, training providers and partners to champion apprenticeships and encourage businesses to create opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Apprentice Ambassador Chair, Jess Duff, outlined how NEAAN is urging SMEs to take on apprentices via the network’s “Just Take One” campaign.
She said: “The North East is a region that believes in opportunity, but the findings in this report show how difficult it is becoming for young people to get a toehold in the jobs market.
“NEAAN’s Just Take One campaign provides a showcase for those regional businesses creating opportunities for people starting out in their careers, but more support from the Government and greater incentives to create apprenticeships would be of huge benefit not just to the NEETS, but also to our businesses and organisations who can futureproof themselves by recruiting more apprentices.”
