The Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a major youth employment drive from the UK government backed by £1 billion, designed to create around 200,000 jobs and expand opportunities for young people entering the workforce.
Key measures announced as part of the government’s “New Deal” for young people include:
- A new Youth Jobs Grant, providing businesses with £3,000 for every young person aged 18–24 they hire who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months, expected to support around 60,000 young people over the next three years.
- Expansion of the Jobs Guarantee, widening eligibility from ages 18–21 to 18–24 and creating more than 35,000 additional subsidised jobs.
- A £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for SMEs hiring young people aged 16–24, supporting the government’s ambition to create 50,000 additional apprenticeships.
- Reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy to prioritise young apprentices and give school and college leavers greater access to training and careers in high-growth sectors.
Having been selected as one of the pilot areas for the Youth Guarantee, delivered locally by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been at the forefront of supporting young people into skills, training and employment. In recent years, the region has demonstrated strong partnership working between employers, education providers and local organisations, alongside the work of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) to better align training with business needs. Together, these efforts have helped develop approaches that are increasingly recognised as examples of best practice despite the wider national challenges.
Charlotte Horobin, CEO of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Businesses across our region are keen to hire and develop young talent, but there are still many barriers for both young people and employers. We welcome the programme because young people need support, apprenticeships, and clear pathways into work. Equally, it’s important to back the employers who are stepping up to provide these opportunities. We hope this can create clear pathways into training, apprenticeships, and sustainable employment in roles outlined by the Local Skills Improvement Plan.”
To read the Government press release click here.