Some of the UK's biggest retailers are planning to write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging him to address the youth unemployment crisis. The letter, drafted by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), is expected to be signed by bosses of Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Primark. It warns that the 'ladder of opportunity for young people is wobbling' and calls for a joint retail and government taskforce.
The BRC's letter will urge the government to reduce costs associated with employing young people and to ensure employment and skills reforms support entry-level recruitment. The lobby group argues that retail has traditionally been a sector where young people can start with few qualifications and build lasting careers.
This comes after former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn warned of a 'lost generation' as the number of young people not working or studying passed one million for the first time in over a decade. Milburn's report stated that youth unemployment is costing Britain more than £125bn a year.
In response, the government announced a £2.5bn youth employment support package, creating 300,000 new work experience and training placements over three years. Meanwhile, M&S has launched a training scheme for 16- to 24-year-olds, offering 1,000 places over 18 months, with no degree requirement.
Stuart Machin, chief executive of M&S, who began his career pushing trolleys at 16, argued that 'today we're losing out on limitless potential, and letting down a generation of kids just like me'. Simon Wolfson of Next noted a 'dramatic fall' in entry-level jobs, with twice as many applicants per role compared to two years ago.
