Young people could be offered cheaper bus travel in return for taking a work placement as part of Andy Burnham’s bid to curb youth unemployment and cut the benefits bill.
The Prime Minister has pledged to bring down the number of NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training) through incentives as well as considering tightening the conditions for receiving welfare.
Burnham is due to announce measures on Tuesday to help more young people into employment, including offering technical courses to 14-year-old pupils that are matched with job opportunities in their local area.
He will pledge that Britain must “value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap”.
It is understood that, in addition to these initial plans, possible incentives around transport are being looked at for announcement further down the line to make it easier for teenagers to get to an apprenticeship or work placement.
State contracts to require work placements
While there is no active plan to introduce cheaper bus travel immediately, the Prime Minister has previously championed his own policy as mayor in Greater Manchester for free bus passes for 16 to 18-year-olds.
In an interview with The i Paper last month, before he entered Downing Street, Burnham referred to the scheme, Our Pass, and floated the idea of it being matched to “a guarantee of a work related opportunity at 16” as well as a “45-day work placement” and using “full social value weighting” in public procurement so that every single state contract can be made to “require work placements for 16 to 18-year-olds or apprenticeships”.
Burnham is understood to view dealing with NEETs as a “national cause” after the number of young people in this group passed a million for the first time.
He is also said to have been interested in an idea proposed by the Labour MP Luke Charters of a “triple lock” for young people which could include discounted train fares, tax incentives to help the young save and a rent to own pathway.
This “triple lock” idea is not understood to be under active consideration, however.
Burnham has also talked about devolving support for young job seekers as happened in Greater Manchester under his tenure as mayor.
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, the Prime Minister said the country had to “get really serious” about bringing down the welfare bill and that he was considering plans to “increase the conditions required to receive benefits”.
Technical courses and skills training for 14-year-olds
On a visit on Tuesday, Burnham will announce a fundamental change to the education system under which 14-year-olds will get early access to technical courses, skills training, work experience and connections with employers.
Ofsted will be told to change the way they measure and inspect schools to ensure they recognise the quality of technical education and the support aimed at preparing young people for work.
The changes follow a warning by Alan Milburn, who is conducting a review into NEETs, that Britain risks leaving behind a “lost generation”.
Pupils from the age of 14 in England, who are in Year 10, will have the chance to combine core academic subjects like English, maths and science with a technical education linked to the jobs available in their area, and be able to spend time with employers and gain real-world experience, the Prime Minister will announce.
The plan builds on the MBacc in Greater Manchester, which created more technical routes for young people who do not want to follow an academic path.
The courses will include teaching skills in engineering, healthcare and digital technology that could lead to jobs in advanced manufacturing, AI, digital and technology, clean energy, life sciences and construction.
Part of Burnham’s devolution programme
The changes will be part of the Burnham Government’s wider programme of devolution, with ministers working with local mayors and schools to develop the new technical education courses from September 2028.
Burnham said: “For too long in this country, students have been told that you must take the academic path to do well and to be respected. The whole school system has been built around it and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications.
“I want an education system based on parity between academic and technical which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap.”
Milburn said the plans were a “big step in the right direction and consistent with the findings of my review,” adding: “A million young people are being failed by a system that isn’t creating the opportunities for them to progress in life. The world of work is changing and the education system isn’t keeping up.”
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