More than one million young people across the country are now classed as NEET — not in employment, education or training.
It is a deeply concerning figure and one that demands action.
As Alan Milburn has warned, Britain risks becoming a country where too many young people are locked out of opportunity before they have even had the chance to start.
I won’t accept that for Essex.
Turning opportunity into employment
As Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, I secured £1 million to support Essex-based young people into work, creating paid three-month employment placements in partnership with local businesses.
The aim is not simply to provide a temporary job.
We want businesses to extend as many placements as possible to six months and beyond, giving young people the experience, confidence and skills that can provide a genuine pathway into long-term employment.
Because the answer to this challenge is not more reports or handwringing.
It is real opportunities, real wages, real experience and real pathways into work.
Business has a vital role to play
Businesses across Essex understand the importance of developing the next generation of workers.
If we are serious about tackling the growing number of young people outside employment, education and training, we need to bring employers into the heart of the solution.
That means giving young people the chance to experience the workplace, develop practical skills, build confidence and resilience, and discover opportunities they may never previously have considered.
For employers, it is also an opportunity to identify new talent, develop their future workforce and invest directly in the communities in which they operate.
Giving young people a stake in their future
Every young person should have the opportunity to build a successful and independent future.
Getting that first opportunity can make all the difference.
That is why we need practical interventions that reconnect young people with employment and give them the confidence, skills and sense of purpose needed to move forward.
Real action to tackle a real problem — and real opportunities for the next generation in Essex.