Jobs will be provided for up to 55,000 young people from April 2026 in six part of the UK, based on areas with the highest need
Young people risk having their benefits cut if they refuse job offers under a new government scheme.
Jobs will be provided for up to 55,000 young people from April 2026 in six part of the UK, based on areas with the highest need.
The roles will last six months, with 25 hours a week fully subsidised, and will be offered in industries including construction and hospitality.
You will be eligible if you are aged between 18 and 21 and if you have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. The young people will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support.
But speaking to the BBC, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said young people would need a “good reason” to decline one of the placements.
He said this could include a “family emergency” but did not provide further details. McFadden added: “This is an offer on one hand, but it’s an expectation on the other.”
The areas where the government-backed jobs will be rolled out include: Birmingham and Solihull, the East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Essex, central and east Scotland, and south-west and south-east Wales.
The government plans to create 350,000 training and work experience placements in total, with funding coming from an £820million pot announced at the Budget last month.
The extra funding comes amid a rise in “Neets”, 16-24-year-olds not in employment, education or training.
Some 940,000 young people are now considered Neet, a rise of 195,000 in the last two years driven mainly by increasing rates of sickness and disability.
In the initial announcement, Pat McFadden, said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.
“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.
“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “ Too many young people fall out of education unnoticed, crippling their life changes and denting the economy.
“Smarter data and early-warning tools will change that – helping us to spot risks sooner, step in faster, and keep learners on track through our Plan for Change.
“With these ambitious measures, we can break down barriers to opportunity to make sure every young person gets the support they deserve.”
