Young people in Wales will be given vital work experience opportunities thanks to a major initiative between government and Britain's leading retailers – with the ambition to create up to 100,000 jobs across the UK by the end of the Parliament.
Alongside the sector's ambitions of creating 100,000 jobs, BRC and DWP are launching a new work experience programme, Opening Shift, which will see 18-24-year-olds looking for work offered two to four weeks of hands-on experience as part of more than 11,000 placements with Britain's biggest retailers, including Tesco, John Lewis, Waitrose, Curry's and Costa Coffee, complete with dedicated workplace support and interview experience.
The DWP will manage the pipeline of eligible young Universal Credit customers who will be referred to the voluntary programme through Jobcentres, and the retailers will provide the placements and wider support, with 16 to 35 hours of work experience provided each week for two to four weeks.
They could be offered a permanent role if one is available, be put on the retailer's talent bank, or directed towards apprenticeship and other opportunities.
The retail sector has used the launch of the programme to set a target of delivering 100,000 jobs for young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) by the end of this Parliament. There are currently around 56,800 young people classified as NEET in Wales.
Retail has long been a key gateway into work for young people, and this new offer from the sector comes after Alan Milburn spoke of the vital importance of work experience for young people, while warning that for many the first rung on the career ladder has thinned.
Earlier this year the government appointed former Marks & Spencer Chief Executive and founder of the charity Movement to Work Marc Bolland to convene businesses and create more opportunities for young people, and he has played a central role in creating this new partnership.
To mark the launch Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden met young people during a visit to John Lewis Oxford Street, London, on Monday. The John Lewis Partnership has also committed to the Jobs Guarantee with 30 new Waitrose roles and a target to recruit 1,000 care-experienced young people by 2030.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden said:
“This partnership will help young people to get the experience employers are looking for.
“Work experience can be life-changing, giving young people the skills, confidence and connections they need to take their first step into work.
“By creating thousands of opportunities in the retail sector, we're delivering on our commitment to help more young people build brighter futures, backed by our £2.5 billion investment to support the next generation into employment.”
Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Kinnock said:
“This announcement will see young people in Wales access those vital first steps on to the jobs ladder, with the benefit of work experience at some of our top retailers.
“This is a scheme designed to kickstart careers and prepare the next generation in Wales for success in the workplace. I'm proud that the UK Government is taking decisive action to support our young people and nurture their talent.”
Marc Bolland said:
“My work as Founder and Chairman of Movement to Work showed me first-hand what's possible when business and government work together to open doors for young people.
“Today's announcement takes that further, creating thousands more opportunities for young people to build a future in one of Britain's biggest industries and I'd encourage every retailer to look at what more they can offer.”
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, said:
“Retail is coming to the rescue for tens of thousands of young people struggling to take their first steps on the career ladder. Too many are trapped in a no experience, no job doom loop. High-quality work experience is essential to fix this problem and Opening Shift is a major contribution to delivering it.
“Retail is uniquely placed to make a difference on the NEETs crisis, given the industry's scale and reach touching every corner of the country. The challenges facing young people are significant. Work experience is a first step and with the right conditions for businesses to invest and create new entry level jobs, employers across the economy can help tackle the NEET crisis.”
As one of the UK's largest employers, with businesses in communities across the country, the retail sector is uniquely placed to provide the work experience, skills and confidence that can help young people take their first step into employment.
This comes as many retailers are already backing the government's Youth Guarantee reforms to give every young person the chance to earn or learn. This includes McDonald's which has launched the largest paid in-person work experience programme in the UK, as well as Sainsbury's, who have also committed to create around 10,000 work experience and employability opportunities for young people from October. Together, they are creating more opportunities for young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.
This follows the Government's recent education reforms to provide technical pathways for young people to close the gap between the classroom and the workplace.
The sector's involvement builds on the Government's youth employment support, including the Jobs Guarantee scheme, which has been backed by over 400 employers and offers a direct route into work for eligible young people. More than 90,000 young people will be supported into work by the scheme in the next three years, with the first cohort already starting positions with retailers including Lidl and Boots.
James Goodman, Asda Chief People Officer, said:
“Supporting young people into employment is vital to the future of our industry. Many of Asda's senior leaders started their careers on the shop floor, and we're proud to support initiatives that help young people develop skills, gain experience, and discover pathways into rewarding careers.”
Helen Webb, Chief People Officer at the John Lewis Partnership, said:
“Retail gave many of us our first job, and it should still be doing that. Too many young people are being asked for experience they've had no chance to get, and Opening Shift is a practical way to change that. It's also how our sector builds the talent it will need.
“We've learned through Building Happier Futures – our employability programme tailored to the needs of care-experienced people – that work experience needs to be properly supported, and we'll bring that to this. Young people who spend time with us will also see what it's like to work in a business owned by its employees.”
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, says:
“This is a welcome opportunity for the many young people struggling to get a foot on the career ladder, and it's great to see retailers stepping up.
“Young people with a learning disability tell us time and time again that they want to work – what they're denied is the support and opportunity. Work experience can be the difference between a young person with a learning disability having the chance to prove what they can do, rather than being judged on what it's perceived they cannot.
“We've supported many young people with a learning disability into retail roles, and the feedback from them and from their employers is consistently hugely positive. We hope many more will get the chance, and we'd urge every retailer signing up to make sure their placements are genuinely supportive of and accessible to people with a learning disability.”
Rosie Ferguson OBE, Chief Executive of UK Youth, said:
“Young people deserve the opportunities to find their way in the world. Government, employers, schools and youth workers all have a role to play in creating the opportunities, support and pathways they need to succeed.
“Today's announcement is a significant commitment to expanding meaningful work experience, and it is encouraging to see employers stepping up. Partnerships with businesses can help young people take those first steps into work, build confidence and develop skills that open doors in the future.
“For young people furthest from the labour market, access to these opportunities must come with the right support. Youth workers play an essential role in building trusted relationships, helping young people navigate transitions into work and training, and connecting them with employers and wider support.
“When employers and youth workers work together, we can do more than help young people get their first job. We can help them discover their strengths, build on their potential and take the next steps towards a fulfilling working life.”
Tesco CEO Ken Murphy said:
“Tesco has a long history of creating opportunities for young people, helping them take their first steps into work regardless of their background, qualifications or previous experience.
“Through programmes like our Stronger Starts apprenticeships and the 5,000 new Opening Shift placements we're creating this year in partnership with Movement to Work, we want to help more young people not in employment, education or training to build their confidence, develop valuable skills and take their first steps towards a rewarding career at Tesco.
“The retail industry has always been at the heart of local communities, providing jobs that are flexible, secure and accessible. The scale of the response from our sector shows retailers recognise the challenge facing the next generation and are determined to be part of the solution.”
Chief Executive, Mental Health UK, Brian Dow said:
“The first step on the career ladder ought to feel like the easiest one to make, yet for so many young people it has felt dauntingly out of reach. The announcement of Opening Shift with the emphasis it includes in supporting young people arrive in the workplace with confidence brings the prospect of a firm beginning and hopeful future one step closer.”
John Boumphrey, Amazon UK country manager, said:
“Visiting our sites across the country, I regularly meet people whose lives were changed because someone gave them a chance. Work experience builds confidence, opens doors, and, for many young people, it's the first time they've been told ‘you can do this'.
“We're proud to support Opening Shift, building on the work experience, apprenticeship and supported employment programmes we already run, including for those with additional needs. We'll keep investing in giving young people across the UK the opportunities they deserve.”
Sophie Morrell, Director of Corporate Partnerships, at The King's Trust said:
“Retail gives thousands of young people their first step into work every year. From learning how to communicate with customers, to working as part of a team and taking responsibility in the workplace, the skills gained can last a lifetime.
“Retail employers have long been among The King's Trust's most committed partners, consistently stepping up to help young people build the confidence, skills and experience they need to enter the world of work. It's encouraging to see the sector unite behind this initiative and create even more opportunities for the next generation to thrive.”
Nick Orrin, UK & Ireland Managing Director, Costa Coffee, said:
“Retail and hospitality are often seen as a first step into work, but they can also be the start of a long and rewarding career. Across our business, many colleagues have progressed from frontline roles into leadership positions.
“We welcome efforts to give more young people the skills, confidence and experience they need not only to get into work, but to progress once they are there. By working together, employers, government and education providers can open up more opportunities for young people to build rewarding careers.”
Sarah Yong, Deputy CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, said:
“Giving young people the opportunity to gain experience of the workplace and connect with employers can play an important role in helping them take their first steps into employment. For young people who have had limited opportunities to engage with employers, meaningful work experience can help build confidence, develop skills and give them a better understanding of what the world of work looks like.
“It is great to see the retail sector coming together to create more opportunities for young people to gain this experience and make valuable connections with employers. Exposure to the workplace, alongside the right employment support, can help young people move closer to and into good work.”
Hamish Shah, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Business Disability Forum, said:
“Work experience can be a vital first step into employment, helping young people build confidence, develop skills and understand what they have to offer an employer. We welcome this commitment from government and the retail sector to create more opportunities for young people to get that first foothold in the workplace. It is important, however, that these opportunities are genuinely accessible and inclusive. Disabled young people can face additional barriers when trying to enter the world of work, and employers have a crucial role to play in removing those barriers and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. By combining high-quality work experience with the right support and adjustments, this initiative can help open doors for a much wider range of young people and create a more inclusive workforce for the future.”
Ellie Harris, Principal Research Fellow and Head of Children and Young People, IPPR, said:
“Young people are full of ambition, but too many don't have the support or opportunities they need to realise their aspirations.
“This is a welcome first step towards giving young people a tangible route out of the cycle of missed opportunities that can leave them stuck and falling further behind.
“Where you grow up still shapes the chances you get. Young people in some of the country's most deprived towns have the most to gain from access to the experiences, networks and opportunities that others too often take for granted.”
