STORY
Former Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland has been appointed as Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department for Work and Pensions to support the Government’s Youth Guarantee. He has been asked to convene business leaders and help improve the route into employment, education or training for young people.
The appointment follows interim findings from the Government-commissioned review led by Alan Milburn into youth inactivity. The DWP said around one million young people are not in employment, education or training, and that Bolland’s experience through Movement to Work would help bring employers into the design and delivery of support.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said Bolland’s appointment showed that the Government was serious about tackling the issue. Bolland will advise ministers on the response to the Milburn review and work with businesses, charities, disabled people’s organisations and young people themselves as part of the wider programme.