MP Gareth Snell Welcomes Retail Drive to Create 100,000 Jobs for Young People

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell has welcomed a new partnership between the Government and Britain’s leading retailers, designed to help young people in the constituency take their first step into work.

The programme, known as Opening Shift, will offer more than 11,000 two-to-four-week work experience placements to 18-24 year olds not in employment, education or training. It has been developed by the Department for Work and Pensions and the British Retail Consortium, with more than 40 retailers involved, including Tesco, John Lewis, Waitrose, Currys, Costa Coffee, Aldi, Asda, Boots, Greggs, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Next, Primark and Wickes.

Participants will receive 16 to 35 hours of hands-on experience each week, alongside workplace mentoring and interview experience. Placements are voluntary, with eligible young people continuing to receive Universal Credit and support with travel costs where needed. Where a permanent role is available, a participant could be offered a job; otherwise they may be placed on the retailer’s talent bank or connected to an apprenticeship or other opportunity.

Alongside the launch, Britain’s retail sector has set an ambition to create 100,000 jobs for young people not in employment, education or training by the end of this Parliament. The partnership was brought together with the support of Marc Bolland, the former Marks & Spencer Chief Executive appointed by the Government to convene businesses on behalf of young people.

Opening Shift forms part of the Government’s wider £2.5 billion investment in the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy, which will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn or learn. It builds on the Jobs Guarantee, backed by more than 400 employers, which will support over 90,000 Universal Credit claimants aged 18 to 24 into work over the next three years, with the first cohort already starting jobs with retailers including Boots and Lidl.

Gareth said: “Every young person in Stoke-on-Trent Central deserves a fair chance to get their foot on the career ladder. Too often, young people are told they need experience to get a job but cannot get that experience without first being given an opportunity. This is a Labour Government working with business to open doors, build confidence and make sure the next generation has the opportunity to earn, learn and build a brighter future.”