An estimated 981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training (Neets), according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Manchester has the third-largest number, with around 40,000 young people in this position, behind only London and Birmingham.
About 3,317 Neets in Greater Manchester are aged 16 and 17, an increase from 3,272 the previous year. The scale of the challenge is considerable, with several factors contributing, including a rise in mental health conditions, fewer entry-level jobs, and Labour’s increase to employer’s National Insurance Contributions, which has made businesses reluctant to hire young people with no experience.
Jake's story: 150 applications and ghosting
Jake, 17, from Tameside, whose real name the Manchester Evening News is not using, is one of these young people. Despite passing his GCSEs with good grades and being encouraged by teachers to stay on at sixth form, he decided against it. He considered joining the Army, even passing its fitness and cognitive tests, before deciding he wanted more life experience first.
What followed was not the start to adult life he had imagined. Jake reckons he has applied for about 150 jobs in retail and catering. One cafe even called to say it wanted to arrange an interview, only to never get back to him. “It was cruel,” he says. “I wasn't expecting an apology. I thought if they've found someone for the job then it's fair. But they just ghosted me.”
Application after application brought little more than silence or disappointment. He also came across fake job adverts. As the months passed, the impact took its toll on Jake’s mental health. “People in my family think I'm not even trying,” he explains. “I get blamed for not getting a job. Everyone looks down on you if you can't find anything.”
Government review and jobs guarantee expansion
A government-commissioned review has been a year in the works. Alan Milburn, a former Labour health secretary, is set to publish his findings on Tuesday (November 17) and set out proposals for tackling what has been described as a national crisis. Mr Milburn said young people deserve a legal “guarantee” of a route into work, with the government having a duty to ensure young people have access to either training, work or employment support.
He is expected to call for under-25s to no longer be able to claim the health element of Universal Credit or personal independence payments, moving them instead to a “youth allowance”, paid at the same level as the standard rate of universal credit.
On Saturday night (November 14), the government revealed the taxpayer-funded scheme aimed at helping young people into work - the “jobs guarantee” - will be expanded to include under-25s who have been claiming benefits for a year. Every eligible 18 to 24-year-old will be “guaranteed” a fully-funded, six-month job matched to their skills after 12 months on Universal Credit, down from the current 18 months, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said. Under the scheme, which will be rolled out nationwide from the end of November, the government funds up to 25 hours of paid work a week at the relevant minimum wage.
Local programmes offer a blueprint
Jake’s experience is one example of what can happen when young people who have struggled to find their place in the jobs market are given more than just another list of vacancies to apply for. Fortunately for Jake, he is now starting to get on track with the help of “Tameside Future”, a local programme supporting youngsters who often have more complex needs. Through the scheme, he has received mental health support, taken part in a summer programme to develop his confidence and teamwork skills, and secured an internship which has sparked an interest in IT. He hopes it will eventually lead to an apprenticeship.
Sarah Jamieson, head of employment and skills at Tameside council, says the programme has supported 240 young people since April. Some have returned to education, while others have moved into employment. Many are on apprenticeships at the town hall. “Our Neets level was 10 pc 18 months ago - this year we got it down to 4.6pc, but it increased recently to six pc,” says Ms Jamieson. The initiative, with an annual cost of £300,000, has also been able to provide salary reimbursements to local employers.
Richard Morris, the service manager, believes that developing a real connection with young people is central to the programme. “We see a variety of young people; you spend time with them and understand them,” he says. “We're here to make sure they stay with us.”
The experiences of young people like Jake, Krystal Khan, Kane Horricks, and Kelsey Dover point to a common theme. Getting a young person into work requires much more than simply telling them to apply for jobs. The importance of tailored support is also reflected in the work of Breakout, a Manchester charity founded by Roman Dibden, whose three-day workshops cater to 15 young people at a time and include CV help, networking with employers, and a mentor.
As ministers prepare to decide what happens next, Greater Manchester offers one possible starting point. Jake is now nine weeks into a 19-week internship at a warehouse office, where he has gained experience in labouring and marketing. He hopes to secure an IT apprenticeship when his placement ends in January.
