Business Leader Appointed to Guide UK Youth Employment Strategy

The UK government has appointed a former chief executive of Marks & Spencer to lead efforts against the growing crisis of youth unemployment. Marc Bolland, who managed the retail giant from 2010 to 2016, will take on a key advisory role. His appointment marks the latest attempt by officials to address the issue of young people who are not in education, employment, or training. Bolland is expected to lead a summit of business leaders. This move comes amid urgent warnings that the country risks creating a "lost generation" if immediate action is not taken.

The numbers behind this crisis are stark. Approximately one million people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not studying, working, or receiving training. This figure represents about one in eight young people in this age group. These individuals are commonly referred to as "Neets." An interim report released by former health secretary Alan Milburn highlighted the severity of the situation. The report warned that the number of Neets could rise to 1.25 million by the 2030s without radical changes to current policies.

Following the release of Milburn’s findings, the government announced that Bolland would serve as the lead non-executive director at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This announcement was made by Downing Street on a Saturday. Bolland was chosen for this high-level position partly due to his existing work with the DWP through his charity, Movement to Work. The government noted that collaborations with Movement to Work have already helped more than 200,000 unemployed young people find jobs. This prior experience made him a strong candidate for leading broader national strategies.

In this new role, Bolland will work closely with leading chief executives from various industries. His goal is to create clear pathways into the workforce and to address the longstanding challenge of youth unemployment. He will also advise Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, on how the government should respond to the data presented in Milburn’s report. McFadden stated that Bolland’s appointment sent a clear signal that the government is serious about tackling this difficult challenge.