Explore the difference between the Youth Employment Group (YEG) ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ and the Labour Government ‘Youth Guarantee’.
Background and aims
The YEGs ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ was first proposed in September 2023, citing the rising number of NEET young people as a key area of concern. The offer, shaped by a range of experts, organisations and perspectives, aims to address:
- A lack of targeted, national employment support for long-term NEET young people
- A lack of national NEET early intervention programmes
- High variability in the availability of youth employment and skills support services
- A lack of necessary volume and quality of post-16 provision and opportunities
- Fragmented responsibility for youth unemployment
The Government’s ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ was unveiled in the 2024 Get Britain Working whitepaper, which outlines Labour’s strategy for tackling economic inactivity and boosting economic growth. The issues it aims to address include:
- Disparity in labour market outcomes
- Skills shortages
- Barriers to employment.
Age range and scope
The YEG’s ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ focuses on under-25-year-olds, aiming to deliver for all young people – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who face additional barriers. Recommendations mainly focus on England due to emerging growth programmes in Wales and Scotland, with additional proposals for Britain-wide policies.
The Government’s ‘Youth Guarantee’ pledges to support 18-21-year-olds in England, increasing access to apprenticeships, training, education opportunities or employment support.
Duration
The YEG’s ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ long-term proposal focuses on transforming the transition from education to employment through structural changes and the development of new services. Young people under the age of 25 would receive support to access employment, training or education within 4 months of leaving employment or education.
Per the Youth Guarantee, the Government will work to mobilise the 8 trailblazer areas in 2025/2026 and there is no clear end date as this initiative will aim to transform the current offering for young people.
Who the initiatives are led by?
The YEG’s ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ proposed the establishment of a joint ministerial brief between the DWP and DfE, with the ministerial-level accountability translating through to a local level. Civil society organisations should also have a major role in the delivery, monitoring and evaluation. It was designed to be delivered through the national collaboration of central government, government departments, local authorities and employers.
The Government’s ‘Youth Guarantee’ pilot will be led by mayoral authorities in partnership with educational training providers, the National Careers Service, DWP and Jobcentre Plus, and local employers.
Implementation strategy
- The YEG’s ‘Young Persons Guarantee’ proposed:
- A pilot targeted placement scheme for long-term NEET young people
- The proactive support of young people in education who are at high risk of being NEET
- The extension of Youth Hubs to all economically inactive young people
- The establishment of a new joint ministerial brief between the DWP and DfE, with a place-based approach for national coordination
- A strengthened and broad range of Level 2 and 3 pathways
The Government ‘Youth Guarantee’ will focus on 8 trailblazer areas across England to pilot the initiative. They will receive a £45 million investment to kickstart the pilot and test the ‘Youth Guarantee’.
Concerns
While a sign that the Government’s attention is moving in the right direction, there are some gaps in its scope:
- There is an opportunity to ensure a connection between Young Futures Hubs and DWP Youth Hubs, and across the Government at a ministerial level.
- An extended age range beyond 18-21 would ensure that young people outside of this range, who are still in key periods of transition, will not fall through the cracks.
- The 8 Trailblazers areas of the ‘Youth Guarantee’ will see investment first, causing other areas to miss out and creating disconnection for those not in local authorities.
