Sign in Subscribe
Youth

Boosting Skills and Career Routes for Young People in the UK

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Plans to increase workers' skills and boost career routes have been announced, with over 120,000 new opportunities for British young people set to be created as the government drives efforts to end the reliance on overseas workers. The efforts aim to address the high youth unemployment and inactivity rates, with nearly 50,000 training places to be funded by increasing the charge paid by employers for bringing in foreign workers by a third.

Key Takeaways:

  • The apprenticeship budget for 2025-26 is over £3 billion, a significant increase from last year's £2.73 billion.
  • £136 million has been pledged for skills bootcamps, which can take up to 16 weeks to complete and offer a qualification at the end or a leg-up onto a career path.
  • Hundreds of different schemes are available for young adults over 19 across areas including early years, HGV driving, and software development.
  • £100 million has been pledged for over four years to expand skills bootcamps specifically for construction.
  • 10 technical excellence colleges specialising in construction skills will open in September.
  • Funding will be redirected away from masters-level apprenticeships from January 2026 towards training at lower levels where it can have a bigger impact in supporting youngsters into the workforce.
  • Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that "a skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward."
  • Sarah Yong, director of policy and public affairs at the Youth Futures Foundation, said that international evidence shows apprenticeships are a highly impactful way to support young people to prepare for and access jobs.

Statistics:

  • Over 120,000 new opportunities will be created for British young people.
  • Nearly 50,000 training places will be funded by increasing the charge paid by employers for bringing in foreign workers by a third.
  • The apprenticeship budget for 2025-26 is over £3 billion.
  • £136 million has been pledged for skills bootcamps.
  • £100 million has been pledged for over four years to expand skills bootcamps specifically for construction.
  • 10 technical excellence colleges specialising in construction skills will open in September.
  • One in eight 16-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training.

Sources:

  • By, Sophie Huskisson
  • Department for Education
  • Government announcement
  • PA
  • Getty Images

Read more