Bosses of Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco and other major retailers are set to write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warning that the 'ladder of opportunity for young people is wobbling' and calling for urgent action on youth unemployment. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has drafted a letter to be published on Wednesday, which it is circulating among its 200 members.
The letter, first reported by Sky News, will urge the creation of a joint retail and government taskforce to simplify and enhance regional and national support for youth employment. It also calls for reducing costs associated with employing young people to help businesses create more opportunities, and for employment and skills reforms to support entry-level recruitment and progression.
The move follows a government-commissioned review by former Labour minister Alan Milburn, who warned last month that Britain risks 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 estimated youth unemployment costs the UK more than £125bn a year.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin, who began his career pushing trolleys at 16, launched a training scheme this week creating 1,000 places for 16- to 24-year-olds over 18 months. He argued that 'today we're losing out on limitless potential, and letting down a generation of kids just like me'.
The government has announced a £2.5bn youth employment support package, including 300,000 new work experience and training placements over three years in sectors such as construction and hospitality. However, Next chief executive Simon Wolfson noted a 'dramatic fall' in entry-level jobs, with the retailer now receiving twice as many applicants per shop role as two years ago.
