A new report from the Jobs Foundation warns that the system for getting young people into work experience is 'broken in ways that go beyond logistics'. The charity highlights that 74% of schools find it difficult to organise placements, while almost half of businesses do not offer work experience due to time constraints and staff capacity.
Chef Tom Kerridge Advocates for Work Experience
Chef Tom Kerridge, who provides work experience in his restaurants, said people 'get the bug' when they come in and 'do a couple of hours a week'. He told the report: 'I always think it's so hard to get into those kinds of first jobs when you're very young, and I think they're very beneficial.'
Barriers for Schools and Employers
The Foundation found that schools face rising costs, logistical pressures and growing statutory requirements, along with the universal 'difficulty of finding enough placements'. Meanwhile, employers 'face real costs of time and resource in making placements meaningful'.
Growing NEET Crisis
In May, former Health Secretary Alan Milburn described the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) as a 'moral crisis'. Office for National Statistics figures show the number of 16- to 24-year-olds classified as NEET passed one million in the first quarter of 2026. According to Milburn's report, 16% of young people in the UK could be NEET within five years if no action is taken.
Benefits of Work Engagement
A study by Education and Employers charity found that young people with high engagement with the world of work are 80% less likely to become NEET. Chief executive Nick Chambers warned that the UK 'cannot afford a system where opportunity depends on who your parents know'. He praised the government's commitment to two weeks of work experience for every young person but added: 'Without the right infrastructure, support and coordination, there is a real danger that we end up advantaging the advantaged and disadvantaging the disadvantaged.'
Government Response
A government spokesperson said ministers were 'determined to change' the situation. They stated: 'Backed by £2.5 billion, our Youth Guarantee will deliver a million opportunities across the country, ensuring every young person has the chance to earn or learn. Our apprenticeship reforms will reverse the 40% fall in starts among young people over the last decade, while Alan Milburn's review is investigating the wider barriers stopping young people from getting into work. Early intervention is also key, and that's why we are supporting families with special educational needs, lifting over half a million children out of poverty, and improving vocational learning to give every young person the best start in life.'
