A million young people on benefits to get free training and work experience to help them get jobs

YOUNG people on benefits will be offered work experience in restaurants and on building sites in a bid to cut down on rising unemployment.

Nearly one million young people will be given learning or employment opportunities and the government will also guarantee 55,000 jobs as part of an £820million funding package.

Around 350,000 people on Universal Credit will be offered training and work experience in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality.

It is hoped that the placements will help them to develop on the job skills, connections, develop their CV and coach them for interviews, so they are more employable.

Almost one million young people are not in education, employment or training, a 26% increase from pre-pandemic levels, recent data reveals.

The government hopes the measures will reverse this trend to get more people working.

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In total, 900,000 young people who receive Universal Credit and are looking for work will also get a dedicated work support session.

They will also get four additional weeks of intensive support.

During these sessions they will be referred to one of up to six pathways by their work coach, including work, work experience, apprenticeship, wider training, learning or a workplace training programme with a guaranteed interview.

As part of the programme young people will get six weeks of training, work experience and a guaranteed job interview.

The Government believes this will help to boost their long term job prospects and help them to gain crucial skills.

Young people will be expected to take up the opportunities they are offered.

If they don’t without a good reason then sanctions to their benefits could be applied.

Guaranteed jobs

The 55,000 guaranteed jobs will begin to be rolled out across the country from Spring 2026 in areas with some of the highest need.

These regions are: 

• Birmingham & Solihull
• East Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Hertfordshire & Essex
• Central & East Scotland
• Southwest & Southeast Wales

More than 1,000 people are expected to start a job in the first six months alone.

Local partners and employers will play a key role in supporting young people as they enter full time employment with fully-funded wages and support.

Youth clubs

The Government also plans to expand youth clubs to every area of the country, increasing the total number to more than 360.

Through the clubs young people will be able to get CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice and careers guidance.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Too many young people fall out of education unnoticed, crippling their life chances and denting the economy.

“With these ambitious measures, we can break down barriers to opportunity to make sure every young person gets the support they deserve.”