UK retailers urge government action on youth unemployment
10 reported
Some of the UK’s biggest retailers are planning to write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging him to tackle youth unemployment, according to a report by Sky News. The British Retail Consortium has drafted a letter to Starmer and is circulating it among its 200 members, which include all main UK retailers except Games Workshop. The letter, expected to be published on Wednesday, warns that the “ladder of opportunity for young people is wobbling” and calls for a joint retail and government taskforce. Signatories are expected to include the bosses of Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Primark. The move follows a government-commissioned review by former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn, which warned of a “lost generation” as the number of young people not working or studying passed a million for the first time in over a decade. Milburn’s report stated that youth unemployment is costing Britain more than £125bn a year. The government has since announced a £2.5bn youth employment support package to create 300,000 new work experience and training placements over three years.
What’s reported
The British Retail Consortium drafted a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for action on youth unemployment.
The letter is being circulated among the BRC’s 200 members, which include all main UK retailers except Games Workshop.
The letter is expected to be published on Wednesday and warns that the “ladder of opportunity for young people is wobbling.”
It calls for a joint retail and government taskforce to simplify and enhance support for youth employment.
Expected signatories include the chief executives of M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Primark.
A government-commissioned review by Alan Milburn warned of a “lost generation” as youth not working or studying passed one million for the first time in over a decade.
Milburn’s report said youth unemployment costs Britain more than £125bn a year.
The government announced a £2.5bn youth employment support package to create 300,000 work experience and training placements over three years.
M&S launched a training scheme for 16- to 24-year-olds, creating 1,000 training places in the UK and Ireland over 18 months.
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson said the retailer receives twice as many applicants per shop role than two years ago.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, UK prime minister
Alan Milburn, former Labour cabinet minister
Stuart Machin, chief executive of Marks & Spencer
Simon Wolfson, chief executive of Next
Sources: The Guardian
