Youth Employment UK along with over 200 organisations across the UK, has signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling on the Government to publicly commit to a new Opportunity Guarantee.
The UK is experiencing the biggest economic crisis in 300 years, and on Tuesday 16th June latest figures are expected to show the highest rate of unemployment in over 100 years.
The new Opportunity Guarantee scheme, backed by some of the UK’s biggest employers, would help to kick start the UK’s economic recovery by investing in jobs of the future, helping people access the jobs market, and providing opportunities for young people.
The open letter, signed by cross industry partners – including The Prince’s Trust,
Heathrow Airport, Asda, universities and charities – has political backing from
Metro Mayors Steve Rotheram (Liverpool City Region), Dan Jarvis (Sheffield City
Region) and Jamie Driscoll (North of Tyne Combined Authority).
Together, over 200 voices called on Government to invest in a new Opportunity Guarantee that:
- Promotes job creation by investing in the jobs that we need for the future
- Doubles the capacity in services that help people into jobs, with greatest support for those facing disadvantage
- Provides an education place, apprenticeship, or job for every young person
Youth Employment UK CEO said “We have been working at pace with key partners of the Youth Employment Group to offer support to government as they develop their policy responses to the economic issues that will be felt from the pandemic. It is clear that there will be a devastating impact on young people and youth employment and we simply cannot wait any longer to put in place the guarantee that all young people will be able to move into a quality education, employment or training opportunity.”
Commenting on the open letter, Lord Bob Kerslake said: “The message to Government is clear – with the Jobs retention Scheme winding up, we must invest in an Opportunities Guarantee. We need to create opportunities for people to skill up, and have a guaranteed role in our economic recovery, and we must
put these plans in place now.”
You can view the letter in full here
-ENDS-
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