Deliver for young people by breaking down the barriers to opportunity

Labour came into office promising to break down the barriers to opportunity: to make sure that our young people can fulfil their potential, no matter their background.

That promise is built on a belief shared by Labour members across the country, and on an understanding of how badly the Conservatives failed, leaving almost one million young people not in education, employment or training.

Not earning or learning can scar a young person’s entire life. It means lower lifetime earnings, poorer health, reduced wellbeing and lower life satisfaction.

Labour is confronting this crisis. Keir Starmer has already committed to a new target for two-thirds of young people to go to university, further education or take on a gold-standard apprenticeship by the age of 25.

Following National Apprenticeship Week, I want to update you on the next steps your Labour Government is making to turn things around for young people across Britain.

We are investing £725 million more to deliver 50,000 extra apprenticeships.

That investment will mean the full cost of providing an apprenticeship is covered for small businesses, enabling them to take on more young people.

It will support Mayors across our regions to match thousands of young people up with local apprenticeship opportunities – so that every community feels the benefit.

And this week, Labour has announced further reforms to the system:

• We are slashing the red tape holding back the delivery of apprenticeships – so that they can be updated, and new short courses developed, much more quickly as the needs of our economy change. This will allow our young people to make the most of the opportunities in the infrastructure and industrial projects being supported by this Labour Government – like new gigafactories and railway upgrades.
• And we are bringing in a brand new clearance-style system for apprenticeships, like the one used for university courses. Tackling the information gap about the opportunities available is really important. Apprenticeship applicants who narrowly miss out on their top choice will get the chance to be re-directed to similar opportunities in their area, so that no one with the ability to succeed misses out.
• These apprenticeship reforms build on the Government’s new Youth Guarantee. Backed by £820 million of funding, the Guarantee provides extra job search support for unemployed young people, more training and work placements, and more Youth Hubs where young people can access CV advice, skills training, mental health support and careers guidance.

The country is turning the corner with Labour. We’re making sure young people aren’t left behind.