Tag: Department for Work and Pensions

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 5 October 2026.

More than 325,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will keep more of what they earn when they take up work or increase their hours.

• New rules coming into force today will end the “cliff edge” loss of income faced by residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation when they increase their working hours.
• Comes as part of the Government’s wider plan to move from a welfare state to a working state, including a £3.5 billion investment in employment support and the biggest youth employment reforms in a generation to create almost one million opportunities for young people.

More than 325,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules coming into force today [Monday 5 October 2026].

Under the system inherited by this Government, people living in supported housing and temporary accommodation often received help with their day-to-day living costs through Universal Credit, while support for their rent was paid separately through Housing Benefit.

The two systems had different rules about how much someone could earn before their benefits started to be reduced and for people receiving Housing Benefit, those rules were less generous than for people whose support was provided entirely through Universal Credit.

As a result, some residents who moved into work or increased their hours could see their Housing Benefit reduced more quickly, leaving them worse off despite earning more. In some cases, the fear of losing support with housing costs acted as a disincentive to take on work. This created a cliff edge that trapped people on benefits rather than supporting them into work and financial independence.

The reforms will help make sure that people living in supported housing and temporary accommodation, including nearly 50,000 young people who are starting out in employment, are better rewarded for taking up work or increasing their hours.

As part of the Government’s commitment to move from a welfare state to a working state, the regulations change how Housing Benefit is calculated so it aligns with Universal Credit, strengthening work incentives for more than 325,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

People should never have to choose between keeping a roof over their head or being able to work. But the system has been rigged against some of the very people trying their hardest to get on, particularly young people starting out, who are being left worse off for earning more.

We’re putting that right through a common-sense change that will help people keep more of what they earn. This is what progressive welfare reform looks like: helping people into work and giving families the security and breathing space they need to get on. That’s how we make Britain better off.

Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said:

For too long, the system has been doing the opposite of what it should: it discouraged some of the most vulnerable residents from working rather than helping them into jobs.

We’re putting that right, so that residents keep more of their earnings, and so that working more hours leaves people better off than staying on benefits.

This is a promise from our Autumn Budget now being put into action, and it’s part of a much bigger effort to overhaul a welfare system that has trapped too many people in dependency for too long. We’re building a system that rewards work and lets people hold on to more of what they earn, while continuing to protect those who need it most.

Homelessness Minister, Florence Eshalomi, said:

We’re investing over £4 billion to end homelessness for good, and employment is an important step in many people’s recovery. This is a crucial intervention that supports this mission – helping people into secure work or increase their earnings from work, in turn building lasting independence.

We’ll continue to support people in temporary accommodation by ensuring that safe, stable placements are available to all who need them, tackling the unlawful use of B&Bs for families and improving access to vital support services.

Today’s rules come alongside previous steps to help people on disability benefits who want to work into work. We have rebalanced Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives that discourage work, while giving sick and disabled people support, they were denied under the previous government and introduced the Right to Try so people can try work without fear of immediate reassessment.

Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive Officer at Centrepoint said:

This is a landmark win for young people, and we commend the government for getting this change over the line. For too long young people in supported housing, particularly those at the start of their careers, have had their ambitions blocked by a system that punished them for working harder.

Young people told us that they often felt “trapped,” unable to increase their hours, change jobs or even build savings without feeling immediately worse off, as the cost of living, rents and utility bills continued to rise. From 5th October a young person living in supported housing will keep far more of what they earn, so their extra hours will finally add up. The changes will mean most young people will not experience the stark financial cliff edge they once faced.

Young people will be free to take on more work, chase their career goals and build the futures they want. This is what it looks like when the system works for young people, and we are hugely grateful to everyone who made it happen.

Emma Haddad, CEO at St Mungo’s CEO said:

St Mungo’s has long campaigned for this change, so we absolutely welcome this landmark moment in removing barriers to work for people living in supported accommodation.

For many people, work is a way to build up financial resilience and independence and supports with maintaining and sustaining a home. But for people living in supported housing, work has often felt out of reach. It is reasonable for benefits to reduce as earnings rise; however, the system that is being replaced withdrew support so sharply that people were left worse off by working more. We have seen heart-breaking cases where people had to choose between earning and keeping their accommodation because of this perverse anomaly in the benefits system.

Hundreds of people who St Mungo’s supports benefit from our learning, training and employment services so that they can improve their skills and confidence before entering the world of work. This change will allow more people to use their skills, which we know has positive impacts on their health and wellbeing and increases connection with communities, all of which are vital steps in the recovery from homelessness.

These measures come alongside an investment of £3.5 billion in employment support for sick or disabled people to end the culture of people being signed off and written off, including personalised support to help 300,000 people into work via the Connect to Work programme.

Additional information

• The Housing Benefit (Earned Income Disregards) Regulations 2026 were laid before parliament on 6th July 2026 and come into force on 5 October 2026.
• Five new earned income disregards are being introduced for working-age Housing Benefit claimants in supported housing and temporary accommodation.
• Disregard values will be updated annually. No group is made worse off by this change; any variation in the immediate financial gain reflects how existing Universal Credit and Housing Benefit tapers already operate.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 October 2026.

Smaller businesses backing the next generation will receive £2,000 for every new young apprentice they take on, opening more doors for young people into skilled careers across the country.

• Small and medium-sized businesses to receive £2,000 for every young person taken on as an apprentice 
• Refreshed apprenticeships.gov.uk website to make it easier than ever for businesses to get help with hiring apprentices. 
• Part of government’s wider drive to deliver 50,000 more youth apprenticeships as it continues to create opportunity for young people across the country

Smaller businesses backing the next generation will receive £2,000 for every new young apprentice they take on, opening more doors for young people into skilled careers across the country. 

Backed by the Federation of Small Businesses, the move will help non-levy paying employers, which are typically small- and medium-sized enterprises, to cover the costs of taking on a young person as an apprentice, building the talent pipeline they need to thrive and grow.  

To make it as simple as possible for smaller businesses, they do not need to apply for the payment, and it will instead be passed onto them via their apprenticeship training provider. 

Small and medium sized businesses are vital for driving growth in every postcode, and this payment will help them better support young people in their local area, enabling people to access a wider range of career opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach. 

As part of ongoing efforts to improve the apprenticeship system for apprentices and businesses a new and improved apprenticeships.gov.uk will serve as a one-stop shop for businesses looking for clear, practical guidance on hiring apprentices, from eligibility criteria through to funding and support.   

Employers will be able to calculate how much funding support they are eligible for and hear from real businesses on their apprenticeship experiences, while young people can browse a range of opportunities by interest and access a step-by-step journey of how to apply for an apprenticeship. 

Together, these measures are part of the government’s drive to fix the youth unemployment crisis and bring back hope. 

This is backed by the government’s additional £2.5 billion investment in the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, which will deliver almost one million opportunities including 50,000 more youth apprenticeships.  

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:  

To ensure every young person has the chance to earn and learn, we must support small- and medium-sized businesses to take on young people.

That’s why we’re giving every small business hiring a young apprentice £2,000 – on top of the countless other benefits that young person will bring – and putting all the information a business needs in one place online.

We promised 50,000 more youth apprenticeships, and we’re delivering on that promise, one hire at a time.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:   

The more a business invests in its workers, the more invested the workers are in the success of the business.

This apprenticeship support is a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to get access to exceptional talent, and in return, gain the fresh energy, ideas and loyalty that come from investing in someone’s future.

By putting the support and guidance they need all in one place, we’re making it easier than ever for small businesses to say ‘you’re hired’ to an apprentice.

Craig Beaumont, Executive Director of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:  

FSB campaigned for the return of a meaningful apprenticeship hiring incentive and we are pleased to see this come into effect. Taking on an apprentice comes with extra costs so financial support can make a real difference for small business owners.

The new £2,000 incentive for non-levy paying employers will give small firms much-needed extra support to take on and train up more apprentices and help tackle the growing challenge of young people not in education, employment or training.

It’s particularly positive that this funding can be stacked with other support worth up to £6,000, so could form a substantive package of up to £8,000 per apprentice. Combined with wider reforms to expand apprentice brokerage services to all the mayoralties, this is a good step towards helping more small firms invest in the next generation of workers.

We’d encourage small business owners to make the most of this support.

Rather than small businesses applying for the payment, eligible apprentices will be identified as they start their training and the hiring payment will be sent to the apprenticeship provider to pass onto employers. It will be paid in two instalments: £1,000 after the apprentice completes their first 90 days, and the second £1,000 after the one-year mark, or after 242 days for shorter apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships. 

The new support comes alongside an expansion of the Apprenticeship Brokerage pilot to all existing Mayors within a Strategic Authority across England. This expansion is recognition that Mayors can play a powerful role in convening employers, know their local skills needs and are best placed create the apprenticeships their communities need.  

Backed by £100 million of additional funding across two years, the expansion doubles the number of areas that will be able to support young people into new opportunities and help them to take the first step into a rewarding and sustainable career in the local area. 

Additional information

Apprenticeship Hiring Payment:  

Eligibility: 

• A non-levy paying employer can get £2,000 to support their apprentice in the workplace if, at the start of their apprenticeship training, they are one of the following: 
• 16 to 24 years old 
• 15 years old (if the apprentice’s 16th birthday is between the last Friday of June and 31 August) 
• And providing they started their job with the employer no more than 90 days before beginning their apprenticeship training. 
• The employer can spend it on any costs related to their employment, for example their work equipment, travel costs or uniform. 

How and when the employer will be paid 

• The employer be paid in 2 instalments of £1,000. They do not need to apply to claim these payments. Their training provider will pass them on if they are eligible. 
• They will get: 
• the first payment of £1,000 – 90 days after the apprenticeship started 
• the second payment of £1,000 – one year after the apprenticeship started, or after 242 days for a foundation apprenticeship 
• Training providers must pay the employer within 30 working days of receiving the money from the government. 
• The employer will only get paid if the apprentice is still employed by them when each payment is due. 

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 October 2026.

Businesses, charities and innovators can start bidding for a share of £60 million to help unlock work for the millions of people out of work with a disability or a health condition.

• Organisations across the UK can now bid for a share of £60 million overall to test bold new ways of supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to enter, stay and progress in work.
• Fund will back new and innovative ideas to break down barriers to employment, including AI-powered job-matching tools and digital therapies for mental health support, and is backed by the former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield.
• Expert panel – including Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson – to help design the fund and shortlist best ideas.
• Comes as part of the Government’s £3.5 billion drive to transform support for disabled people and those with health conditions.

Businesses, charities and innovators can start bidding for a share of £60 million to help unlock work for the millions of people out of work with a disability or a health condition.

The Pathways to Work Innovation Fund – first announced in July – is a ‘call to action’ for the private, voluntary and public sectors to come forward with the most ambitious, creative ideas to help disabled people and those with health conditions get into and on at work.

These ideas could include AI-powered job-matching tools, prosthetics, digital therapies for mental illness and innovative ways to support people with ill health and more. Applications will close on 26 October 2026.

Almost 800 organisations took part in a recent agenda-setting first event as part of the programme – the first in a series of events taking place across the country to drive engagement among local business leaders who will play a key role in helping support people into work and drive growth in every postcode.

The new approach comes alongside wider Government action to help the 2.8 million people out of work due to sickness into employment and fulfil their full potential, as part of reforms to the broken welfare system this government inherited, including:

• Rebalancing Universal Credit to remove the perverse incentives that push people away from work.
• Introducing a Right to Try Work Guarantee, giving everyone who can work the chance to do so without fear of losing their benefits.
• Investing £3.5 billion in tailored employment support for sick or disabled people.
• Increasing face-to-face assessments for health benefits.
• Tackling fraud and error in the benefits system, saving £14.6 billion over this Parliament

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

We want the best ideas from business, charities and disabled people themselves, to help us transform employment support and make sure no talent is left behind.

These ideas will help us support disabled people in work, helping them to thrive and fulfil their full potential, tackle the disability employment gap and help businesses drive growth across every postcode.

As part of his ambition to deliver technical solutions alongside Government action to tackle economic inactivity, the Work and Pensions Secretary chaired a tech roundtable in July where some organisations showcased their work, including:

• Koalaa, which designs and manufactures comfortable, affordable prosthetics for all ages.
• Ufi VocTech Trust, which funds platforms making vocational training and job onboarding accessible to neurodivergent people and those with learning or health conditions.

An expert panel, including Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will help decide which bids should receive funding, making sure disabled people’s experiences shape the outcome.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian and Member of House of Lords, said:

We know that with the right support, disabled people can and do thrive in the workplace. This is a real opportunity to back the bold, creative ideas that can make that happen, and I would urge businesses, charities and innovators across the country to come forward with their best thinking.

Helping shape this Fund matters to me because finding and keeping work matters enormously, not just for individual wellbeing and independence, but for society as a whole.

Potential bidders have been attending events across the country to hear directly from experts about the Fund, walking them through the application process and what’s needed to submit a strong bid. Members of the Fund’s Advisory Panel are also on hand throughout, offering their insight and expertise to those considering an application.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, author of the Keep Britain Working Review and Co-Chair of the Keep Britain Working programme, said:

Economic inactivity caused by health conditions costs our economy £212 billion a year.

But this is fixable. We need ambitious, creative approaches to help disabled people and those with health conditions get into and stay in work.

If you’re a business, a charity, or an innovator, this is your chance to bid for funding and test genuinely new ways of transforming employment support.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK said:

techUK was delighted to host the Secretary of State to launch the Pathways to Work Innovation Fund.

Our members are already developing innovative technologies that are breaking down barriers, helping disabled people and those with health conditions find work, stay in work and thrive.

This £60 million investment can build on that success by speeding up the adoption of proven solutions. We look forward to working with DWP to make sure the Fund reaches the innovators, particularly the UK’s dynamic SMEs, who can make the biggest difference.

Additional information

The Pathways to Work Innovation Fund opened for bids on 28th September, with full details of how to apply available at Pathways to Work Innovation Fund: applicant bid pack – GOV.UK.

The Fund is open to public, private and voluntary sector organisations across the UK.

Companies showcased at the Fund’s launch included:

• Big Health – digital therapeutics for common mental health conditions such as insomnia, anxiety and depression
• Beam – an AI caseworker platform that has supported over 7,000 people with health conditions into work
• Cogniss – a no-code platform that makes app development highly accessible and facilitates the creation of digital health and behaviour-change apps
• Ally Labs – provides an array of services and technologies designed to support mental health and wellbeing
• Ufi VocTech Trust – funds platforms that make vocational training and job onboarding accessible to neurodivergent individuals and those with learning disabilities or health conditions
• Koalaa – designs and manufactures comfortable and affordable prosthetics for all ages
• Blum Health – UK-based healthcare innovation, designing and scaling NHS-compliant software, AI solutions and patient engagement platforms
• Radii Devices – a web-based platform supporting clinicians to provide optimal fitting prosthetics to disabled people

Full list of expert panel members:

• Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson – Paralympian and Member of the House of Lords
• Andrew Greenway – Founder, Public Digital
• Angela Matthews – Director, Business Disability Forum
• Giles Barker – Workplace Disability Lead, Channel 4
• Jon Sparkes – Chief Executive of Mencap
• Mark Esho – Entrepreneur, founder and co-owner of Easy Internet Services Ltd and Easy Internet Solutions
• Nabila Gardner – Director and Health and Wellbeing Coach of Ways of Wellbeing and member of the DWP Independent Disability Advisory Panel
• Adam Whitworth – Professor at University of Strathclyde
• Mark Hodgkinson – Chair, The Valuable 500 Foundation

Additional advisers put forward by the Northern Ireland Executive and Welsh Government are being appointed and will be confirmed shortly.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 27 September 2026.

Thousands of young disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are set to be offered a fast-tracked job under the government’s Jobs Guarantee.

• Young people set to benefit from fully funded jobs as government continues to tackle UK’s persistently high disability employment gap.
• Number of NEET young people who report having a disability has doubled in the past decade.
• New fast track for those on health benefits part of £2.5 billion investment to support almost a million young people towards employment.

Under the scheme, eligible young people on health benefits will be offered a guaranteed job on a voluntary basis from week 13 after their Work Capability Assessment.

They will receive mentoring and tailored support with their mental health, finances and housing to prepare them for work, while employers will be supported with onboarding costs.

The government will also cover 100% of wage costs up to 25 hours a week for six months.

The move marks a significant expansion of the Jobs Guarantee, a government scheme launched earlier this year for long-term unemployed young people aged 18 to 24 who have been claiming Universal Credit for 18 months.

The expansion to young people on health benefits will start from April 2027 and comes as part of the government’s £3.5 billion investment to deliver the most significant employment reforms in a generation to tackle the UK’s persistently high disability employment gap.

These reforms include the ‘right to try’ guarantee announced earlier this year, which will enable those on sickness benefits to try to work without the immediate fear of losing their benefits.

Earlier this year, Alan Milburn’s interim report found that nearly half of young people who are NEET in the UK (45%) report having a disability – more than doubling from 21.1% in 2013/14.

Widening eligibility for the scheme to young disabled people means thousands will have the chance to join the scheme which is intended to help up to 90,000 young people into work by the end of the Parliament.

This comes as part of the government’s efforts to tackle the UK’s persistently high disability employment gap, including the ‘right to try’ announced earlier this year, which will enable those on sickness benefits to try work without the immediate fear of losing their benefits.

The government believes every young person should have the opportunity to earn or learn, with £2.5 billion committed over the next three years to Youth Guarantee schemes including £3,000 payments for businesses who hire a young person out of work for six months, and an expansion of youth apprenticeships.

Emma Taylor, Chief People Officer at Tesco, said:

We welcome the Government’s expansion of the Jobs Guarantee, which will help more young people with disabilities and long-term health conditions access the opportunities, experience and support they need to get started in the world of work.

At Tesco, we’ve always been committed to helping young people develop the skills and confidence required for a long-term career, and we recognise that creating more ways into employment for those facing additional barriers is vital if every young person is to have the chance to fulfil their potential.

As a Disability Confident Leader, inclusion is a long-standing priority for Tesco and we’re proud to support initiatives that help widen access to work while creating meaningful opportunities for more young people to succeed.

Harriet Edwards, Director of Influencing at the national disability charity Sense, said:

We welcome investment that gives more young disabled people the opportunity to get into work. Too many who want to work are still locked out by barriers, including a lack of appropriate support, inaccessible workplaces and negative attitudes.

These jobs must be accessible, work for the individual and lead to lasting opportunities. Young disabled people need tailored support and inclusive workplaces, and success should be measured not just by how many start a job, but whether they have the support and opportunities to build the future they choose.

Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, said:

Many young people with mental health problems tell us that they’d love to work but can’t find the right support or opportunities in order to do so. If delivered in a genuinely supportive way, this offer could be life changing for a young person struggling with their mental health.

For far too long young people have been let down, with less opportunities and support than previous generations. Focussing on providing genuine opportunity to harness their motivations and ambitions is a really positive step forward, and we look forward to seeing the full detail.

Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive of Mencap, said:

This is very welcome news. Young people with a learning disability are disproportionately likely to be out of work and not in education, employment or training. Earlier access to paid work, tailored support and mentoring could help prevent them from becoming trapped in long-term unemployment.

The voluntary nature of the scheme will give young people with a learning disability the confidence to explore work opportunities and show what they can do, without losing the support they need. If delivered well, with backing from employers and vital support like Access to Work, this could help tackle the NEETs crisis and get more young people with a learning disability into work.

Brian Dow, Chief Executive, Mental Health UK:

Expanding access to the Jobs Guarantee for young disabled people is welcome news. Fast-tracking access to these opportunities has the potential to make a hugely positive difference to young people’s morale, allowing them to gain paid work experience and develop new skills that can make a real difference to their confidence, wellbeing and future employment prospects. Making this support easier to access could help more young people to take those important first steps into work.

James Taylor, Executive Director at disability equality charity Scope:

This scheme could give many young disabled people a much-needed foot in the door. For too long, disabled young people have been locked out of work by barriers beyond their control. They have been overlooked when they apply for jobs, denied the support they need at work, and too often left without the opportunities they deserve.

Young disabled people have a wealth of talent and skills, and it’s positive to see the government putting money behind them to unlock their potential. That means the right adjustments, tailored support and opportunities to move into accessible, secure, and lasting jobs.

Laura Davis, Chief Executive of British Association for Supported Employment/Inclusive Trading

It is hugely encouraging to see the government recognising the significant barriers that many young disabled, neurodivergent people and those with long-term health conditions face in accessing good careers, by extending the Jobs Guarantee to include young people on health benefits. We hope to see strong alignment with evidence-based programmes, with the right join-up, young people with the most complex support needs will not have to choose between receiving the support they need and accessing opportunities to build a meaningful career.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

Retail has a proud history of providing accessible first routes into the workforce. The expansion of the Jobs Guarantee gives more young disabled people a fair shot at building a career without the risk of losing vital safeguards. Retailers welcome this investment and look forward to playing a central role in delivering these opportunities from 2027.

Retail is already stepping up to support anybody not in employment, education or training through the Opening Shift programme, a new, national retail work experience initiative in partnership with DWP, which is already offering more than 11,000 work experience placements to young people furthest from the labour market.

Sarah Yong, Deputy CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, the What Works Centre for Youth Employment, said:

We welcome the news that the Jobs Guarantee will be widened to include young people with disabilities and health barriers who feel they would be able to enter employment with support. We know that these young people are disproportionately represented in the NEET statistics and are finding their pathway into suitable work increasingly challenging; they need to be given a chance and the right support to take this chance.

The Jobs Guarantee to date has been informed by the evidence of what works and it will be important for this to continue as it expands and evolves. Evidence in our Youth Employment Toolkit tells us that targeted wage subsidy interventions with wrap around support, which enable young people to gain real employment experience, can be most effective when targeted well for young people facing the greatest barriers to work.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 23 September 2026.

Earlier and better support for people with health conditions or disabilities in the workplace is key to driving growth and productivity, says a new report published by the co-chair of Keep Britain Working today [23 September 2026].

In his latest update, Sir Charlie Mayfield sets out the work being done with employers, providers and those with lived experience to deliver Britain’s first Workplace Health System. 

Around 300,000 people with a health condition leave work every year.

But much of this is preventable. Someone absent for four to six weeks has a 96 percent chance of returning. After a year, fewer than half do. 

Since 2019, the number of working-age people out of work due to ill health has risen by 800,000, with a total cost to the economy of around £212 billion a year.

The new plan aims to build better, more inclusive workplaces and better workplace health provision to prevent ill health conditions from escalating and to support people in work with health conditions or disabilities, to achieve more successful returns after absences from work.

It brings together employers, the NHS, local authorities and other support services to ensure people don’t fall out of work unnecessarily and companies have better data on workplace health and inclusion to drive change.

Eleven regional Vanguards, including nine Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Cornwall Council, Hull City Council and Worcestershire City Council, and more than 200 Vanguard organisations are already building and testing the new system with employers, unions and disabled people across all four nations of the UK.

Examples include: 

• Liverpool City Region testing draft return-to-work plans developed with employers.
• Hull City Council, in partnership with provider Latus, creating the Hull Resilience Hub, a buyer’s pool letting local SMEs access occupational health services at the same prices as large corporates.
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will be trialling independent case workers sitting part-time within businesses to support employees with health concerns.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, author of the Keep Britain Working Review and Co-Chair of the Keep Britain Working programme, said:

Britain has spent too long treating economic inactivity as a welfare problem. It is not.

Instead, it’s one of the largest and most attainable growth opportunities this country has.

We’ve had a National Health Service for almost 80 years. We’ve never had a Workplace Health System. That is why the same people appear on the welfare bill, on NHS waiting lists and in the productivity figures without anyone being able to join them up.

It’s also why we are missing the best moments to help people. The new Workplace Health System would change that.

Ten months of building and testing with employers, mayors, providers, unions and disabled people have made us even clearer about what needs to change and more confident that a new system that helps to drive economic growth is within reach.

The task now is to build it.

An employer standard is being developed with the British Standards Institution, alongside affordable support for smaller firms through pooled buying and insurance routes, so good workplace health support is not just available to big companies.

Sir Charlie’s work sits within a £3.5 billion employment support package. WorkWell, backed by £259 million will support up to 250,000 people to stay in or return to work. Connect to Work will reach 300,000 sick or disabled people with tailored support. Over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers are already in place across Britain.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

Too many people fall out of work because of a health problem that could have been caught earlier, and too many employers have no way of knowing whether they are getting this right.

This programme is working hand in hand with employers, mayors and local leaders to change that, so that good workplace health support is not just for big companies and it delivers growth across every postcode.

Alongside this, the programme is also focusing on intelligence. Few employers can currently tell how well they keep staff with health conditions in work, or whether people are still in work six months on. Fewer still have the insights that could fuel their prevention efforts. A new employer data project and work and health prototype are being developed this autumn aims to address these gaps.

Over the next year the programme will continue to work with BSI to develop a standard  and test and refine employer commitments with the Vanguard to build the evidence on what works.

Minister of State for Work and Health Ally McGovern, said:

Anyone can find themself with an illness that could stop them working.  
Getting help quickly rather than waiting for the problem to get worse is the right way to support good health and a strong economy.

The government is also committed to further steps to bring about effective and sustainable welfare reform, and this will be guided by the Milburn and Timms reviews, which are due to conclude later this year.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

Too many people are being written off from good work when the right support could help them thrive.

Through our Healthy Working Life programme, we’re bringing together health services, employment support and employers, so people can get the help they need at the right time rather than being bounced between disconnected services.

Supporting people with health conditions and disabilities to access good work isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s key to unlocking talent and building a healthier, wealthier West Yorkshire.

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, said: 

I want South Yorkshire to become the healthiest region in the country, a place where everyone has the chance to work, support their families and pursue their dreams. At the moment, all too many people don’t have that chance because of poor health.  
Our trial will help us work alongside employers, employees and health experts to find practical ways of supporting people to stay well, stay in work, or return to work when they’re ready.  
By testing new ideas and listening to the voices of both working people and employers, we can help create healthier workplaces where people and businesses can get on, contribute to our communities and our economy, and help us build the South Yorkshire we all want to see.

Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: 

Greater Manchester has long championed the link between good work, good health and economic prosperity. Through our Live Well approach, Good Employment Charter and Get Greater Manchester Working plan, we’re focused on helping more people stay in work, particularly when they’re facing health or other challenges. We welcome the focus on prevention and look forward to working with partners to put effective solutions into practice.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

Creating a Workplace Health System approach will bring organisations together to work better to provide the right support, at the right time, to help keep more people in work.

We know that the longer people are off work, the harder it can be to return. This is why early personalised support is so important, particularly for long-term sickness and poor mental health. In partnership with local councils, Integrated Care Boards, the government, and community organisations, in the West we’ll build a more joined‑up, preventative system that helps people sooner.

The West of England is already the country’s fastest-growing regional economy. Through our new Skills Strategy, our ambition is to also have the highest employment rate in the UK.  We’re working with employers to enable them to find and retain the talent and workforce they need to thrive, while making it easier for residents of all ages to access training, advice and pathways into work.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: 

Too many people across the West Midlands want to work and get on in life, but are being held back by barriers that they should be getting help to overcome.

Good work is about more than a pay packet. It brings security, independence, and pride, and when people are locked out of work, we’re also missing out on their skills and talent.

West Midlands Works is about changing that. By working alongside the Keep Britain Working programme and employers, we can give people the right support to get into work, stay in work and build a better future for themselves and their families.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

People shouldn’t be written off because they develop a health condition – and businesses shouldn’t have to lose good, experienced workers because the right support wasn’t there soon enough.

In the Liverpool City Region, we’re proud to be playing our part in helping to test practical ways of changing that; stepping in earlier, working directly with employers and making it easier for people to stay in work or return when they’re ready. That matters just as much for a small business employing ten people as it does for a company employing thousands.

If we can get this right, the prize is huge: more people able to keep the security and independence that comes with work, businesses holding on to the skills they need, and a stronger, more productive economy as a result. It’s the kind of common sense reform that can make a real difference to people’s lives.

Alistair Cochrane, Chief Executive of Royal Mail, said: 

Royal Mail is proud to support Keep Britain Working to help more people stay in and return to work.

We are already applying learnings from the programme to strengthen support for our employees’ wellbeing, particularly those at risk of musculoskeletal and mental health conditions, which are the leading causes of sick absence in our business.

We are introducing practical measures such as upskilling managers on mental health, removing barriers for employees seeking help with their health, and making it as easy as possible to return after long-term sick leave.

Anne Hayes, Director of Standards Development, BSI, said: 

We support the KBW review’s conclusion that supporting more people into work represents an economic opportunity for the UK.

Our research has found that employers play a critical role in this, with nearly half of staff who are not confident raising health concerns with their employer having left a role or taken extended leave as a result.

The standard we are developing with KBW will be a vital tool to help employers work effectively to build workplace cultures rooted in trust so that individuals and organisations alike can flourish.

John Foster, Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer, CBI:

The progress of the Keep Britain Working Review shows what can be achieved when government and business work together to turn ambition into practical action.

Making affordability a key test is particularly important at a time when cost pressures are constraining firms’ ability to hire and invest. Bringing down the wider cost of doing business will help give employers the confidence and headroom to create jobs, invest in their people and play their full part in delivering this shared ambition.

Jack Latus, CEO of Latus Group, said: 

Every person who leaves work because of ill health is a loss to their employer, their local economy and the public finances.

Too often, someone develops a health condition and slowly drifts away from their job with isolation and long silent periods on a fit note making things worse.

Prevention has to happen where people spend their working lives.

Good workplace health support means acting early, staying in touch, and working together on a return before a health problem becomes a lost job.

In Hull, the Resilience Hub is giving local SMEs that support and Latus are delighted to be part of the Keep Britain Working movement, working to explore how earlier insights from employees can better support them, and at the right time.

Kate Thompson, executive director of people and organisational development at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

We want to be a leading employer for staff health and wellbeing and are delighted to be part of the Keep Britain Working movement.

Our staff health needs assessment, which brings together demographic information and survey questions, provides real insights into our varied workforce.

It has already helped focus our preventative and proactive work where it’s most needed, including projects on musculoskeletal conditions and financial wellbeing. The next stage is to make the data readily available to the right people, so they can identify health and wellbeing priorities for their teams.

Staff health and wellbeing is part of our overall focus on staff satisfaction, as we know that happy, healthy staff provide better patient care. It also helps us to reduce sickness absence, improve productivity and drive value for public money.

Additional information

1. Keep Britain Working is an independent review turned delivery programme tackling health-related economic inactivity and promoting healthy, inclusive workplaces. It is co-chaired by Sir Charlie Mayfield, alongside the three Secretaries of State. Read more at Keep Britain Working – GOV.UK.
2. Read the report A National Growth Opportunity – GOV.UK.
3. Around 300,000 people with a health condition leave work every year. Someone absent for four to six weeks has a 96% chance of returning. After a year, fewer than half do. 
4. Preventing a modest share of that avoidable loss, and narrowing the employment gap experienced by disabled people, is enough to move the national numbers. A one percent increase in participation that would mean c.330,000 more people in work, which is equivalent to the productive capacity of a city the size of Cardiff.
5. List of Regional Vanguards:

• Cornwall Council 
• East Midlands 
• Greater London Authority 
• Greater Manchester 
• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 
• North East Combined Mayoral Authority 
• South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority 
• West Midlands Combined Mayoral Authority 
• West of England Combined Mayoral Authority 
• West Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority 
• Worcestershire County Council

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 8 September 2026.

Young people will be given vital work experience opportunities thanks to a major initiative between government and Britain’s leading retailers – with the ambition to create up to 100,000 jobs by the end of the Parliament.

• New scheme to offer 18-24-year-olds work experience being developed with Britain’s biggest retailers including John Lewis, Currys and Costa Coffee.
• It forms part of a wider retail sector target to deliver 100,000 jobs for young people by the end of this Parliament to tackle the number of young people not in employment, education or training.
• Former Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Marc Bolland – appointed by Government to drive forward youth employment reforms – played central role in creating new partnership with the British Retail Consortium.

Young people will be given vital work experience opportunities thanks to a major initiative between government and Britain’s leading retailers – with the ambition to create up to 100,000 jobs by the end of the Parliament. 

Alongside the sector’s ambitions of creating 100,000 jobs, BRC and DWP are launching a new work experience programme, Opening Shift, which will see 18-24-year-olds looking for work offered two to four weeks of hands-on experience as part of more than 11,000 placements with Britain’s biggest retailers, including Tesco, John Lewis, Waitrose, Curry’s and Costa Coffee, complete with dedicated workplace support and interview experience. 

The DWP will manage the pipeline of eligible young Universal Credit customers who will be referred to the voluntary programme through Jobcentres, and the retailers will provide the placements and wider support, with 16 to 35 hours of work experience provided each week for two to four weeks. 

They could be offered a permanent role if one is available, be put on the retailer’s talent bank, or directed towards apprenticeship and other opportunities. 

The retail sector has used the launch of the programme to set a target of delivering 100,000 jobs for young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) by the end of this Parliament.  

Retail has long been a key gateway into work for young people, and this new offer from the sector comes after Alan Milburn spoke of the vital importance of work experience for young people, while warning that for many the first rung on the career ladder has thinned.  

Earlier this year the government appointed former Marks & Spencer Chief Executive and founder of the charity Movement to Work Marc Bolland to convene businesses and create more opportunities for young people, and he has played a central role in creating this new partnership.  

To mark the launch Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden met young people during a visit to John Lewis Oxford Street on Monday. The John Lewis Partnership has also committed to the Jobs Guarantee with 30 new Waitrose roles and a target to recruit 1,000 care-experienced young people by 2030. 

Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden said:

This partnership will help young people to get the experience employers are looking for.

Work experience can be life-changing, giving young people the skills, confidence and connections they need to take their first step into work.

By creating thousands of opportunities in the retail sector, we’re delivering on our commitment to help more young people build brighter futures, backed by our £2.5 billion investment to support the next generation into employment.

Marc Bolland said:

My work as Founder and Chairman of Movement to Work showed me first-hand what’s possible when business and government work together to open doors for young people.  

Today’s announcement takes that further, creating thousands more opportunities for young people to build a future in one of Britain’s biggest industries and I’d encourage every retailer to look at what more they can offer.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, said:

Retail is coming to the rescue for tens of thousands of young people struggling to take their first steps on the career ladder. Too many are trapped in a no experience, no job doom loop. High-quality work experience is essential to fix this problem and Opening Shift is a major contribution to delivering it.

Retail is uniquely placed to make a difference on the NEETs crisis, given the industry’s scale and reach touching every corner of the country. The challenges facing young people are significant. Work experience is a first step and with the right conditions for businesses to invest and create new entry level jobs, employers across the economy can help tackle the NEET crisis.

As one of the UK’s largest employers, with businesses in communities across the country, the retail sector is uniquely placed to provide the work experience, skills and confidence that can help young people take their first step into employment.

This comes as many retailers are already backing the government’s Youth Guarantee reforms to give every young person the chance to earn or learn. This includes McDonald’s which has launched the largest paid in-person work experience programme in the UK, as well as Sainsbury’s, who have also committed to create around 10,000 work experience and employability opportunities for young people from October. Together, they are creating more opportunities for young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.  

This follows the Government’s recent education reforms to provide technical pathways for young people to close the gap between the classroom and the workplace. 

The sector’s involvement builds on the Government’s youth employment support, including the Jobs Guarantee scheme, which has been backed by over 400 employers and offers a direct route into work for eligible young people. More than 90,000 young people will be supported into work by the scheme in the next three years, with the first cohort already starting positions with retailers including Lidl and Boots. 

Additional Information

• Opening Shift is a new DWP and retail industry work experience programme for 18 to 24-year-old NEETs, offering two to four-week placements (16 to 35 hours per week) with ongoing Universal Credit support, travel cost assistance where needed, workplace mentoring and interview experience. Its aim is to give young people the skills and experience they need to get their first job and contribute towards the BRC’s ambition of creating 100,000 jobs by the end of this Parliament.
• The British Retail Consortium is the trade association for the UK retail industry, representing more than 200 members including major retailers and independent businesses, and has brought together retailers to develop this programme with the support of the DWP.
• Marc Bolland is Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department for Work and Pensions and founder chairman of Movement to Work, a registered charity offering free support to businesses to create youth employability programmes. It has delivered more than 200,000 opportunities for 16 to 30-year-olds facing barriers to work. *The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy.
• This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant, a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six-month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds through the Jobs Guarantee.
• The Jobs Guarantee will support over 90,000 Universal Credit claimants aged 18 to 24 into work over the next three years, providing six months of fully funded paid employment matched to their skills after 18 months of claiming and searching for work. The first cohort of young people have already started roles at companies such as Boots and Lidl, with a national rollout later this year.
• The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is contributing to the Youth Guarantee through a range of employment and work experience opportunities. Through JLP’s Building Happier Futures programme, 1,000 roles will be ringfenced for care-experienced young people by 2030.
• List of retailers involved in the development and roll out of Opening Shift to date: Aldi, All Saints, Amazon, Ann Summers, Asda, B&M, B&Q, Bensons, Booths, Boots, Currys, Dobbies, Dr Martens, Dunelm, Fishpools, Holland & Barrett, House of Bruar, Iceland, JD Sports, John Lewis Partnership, JoJo Maman Bebe, Lakeland, Liberty, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Mountain Warehouse, New Look, Next, Our Coop, Pets at Home, Pret, Primark, Savers, Screwfix, Superdrug, Tesco, The Perfume Shop, The Works, Very Group, Wickes.

Supportive quotes

James Goodman, Asda Chief People Officer, said:

Supporting young people into employment is vital to the future of our industry. Many of Asda’s senior leaders started their careers on the shop floor, and we’re proud to support initiatives that help young people develop skills, gain experience, and discover pathways into rewarding careers.

Helen Webb, Chief People Officer at the John Lewis Partnership, said:  

Retail gave many of us our first job, and it should still be doing that. Too many young people are being asked for experience they’ve had no chance to get, and Opening Shift is a practical way to change that. It’s also how our sector builds the talent it will need.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, says:  

This is a welcome opportunity for the many young people struggling to get a foot on the career ladder, and it’s great to see retailers stepping up. 

Young people with a learning disability tell us time and time again that they want to work – what they’re denied is the support and opportunity. Work experience can be the difference between a young person with a learning disability having the chance to prove what they can do, rather than being judged on what it’s perceived they cannot. 

We’ve supported many young people with a learning disability into retail roles, and the feedback from them and from their employers is consistently hugely positive. We hope many more will get the chance, and we’d urge every retailer signing up to make sure their placements are genuinely supportive of and accessible to people with a learning disability.

Rosie Ferguson OBE, Chief Executive of UK Youth, said: 

Young people deserve the opportunities to find their way in the world. Government, employers, schools and youth workers all have a role to play in creating the opportunities, support and pathways they need to succeed. 

Today’s announcement is a significant commitment to expanding meaningful work experience, and it is encouraging to see employers stepping up. Partnerships with businesses can help young people take those first steps into work, build confidence and develop skills that open doors in the future. 

For young people furthest from the labour market, access to these opportunities must come with the right support. Youth workers play an essential role in building trusted relationships, helping young people navigate transitions into work and training, and connecting them with employers and wider support. 

When employers and youth workers work together, we can do more than help young people get their first job. We can help them discover their strengths, build on their potential and take the next steps towards a fulfilling working life.” 

Tesco CEO Ken Murphy said: 

Tesco has a long history of creating opportunities for young people, helping them take their first steps into work regardless of their background, qualifications or previous experience. 

Through programmes like our Stronger Starts apprenticeships and the 5,000 new Opening Shift placements we’re creating this year in partnership with Movement to Work, we want to help more young people not in employment, education or training to build their confidence, develop valuable skills and take their first steps towards a rewarding career at Tesco. 

The retail industry has always been at the heart of local communities, providing jobs that are flexible, secure and accessible. The scale of the response from our sector shows retailers recognise the challenge facing the next generation and are determined to be part of the solution.

Chief Executive, Mental Health UK, Brian Dow said: 

The first step on the career ladder ought to feel like the easiest one to make, yet for so many young people it has felt dauntingly out of reach.  The announcement of Opening Shift with the emphasis it includes in supporting young people arrive in the workplace with confidence brings the prospect of a firm beginning and hopeful future one step closer.” 

John Boumphrey, Amazon UK country manager, said:  

Visiting our sites across the country, I regularly meet people whose lives were changed because someone gave them a chance. Work experience builds confidence, opens doors, and, for many young people, it’s the first time they’ve been told ‘you can do this’.  

We’re proud to support Opening Shift, building on the work experience, apprenticeship and supported employment programmes we already run, including for those with additional needs. We’ll keep investing in giving young people across the UK the opportunities they deserve.

Sophie Morrell, Director of Corporate Partnerships, at The King’s Trust said: 

Retail gives thousands of young people their first step into work every year. From learning how to communicate with customers, to working as part of a team and taking responsibility in the workplace, the skills gained can last a lifetime.” 

Retail employers have long been among The King’s Trust’s most committed partners, consistently stepping up to help young people build the confidence, skills and experience they need to enter the world of work. It’s encouraging to see the sector unite behind this initiative and create even more opportunities for the next generation to thrive.

Nick Orrin, UK & Ireland Managing Director, Costa Coffee, said: 

Retail and hospitality are often seen as a first step into work, but they can also be the start of a long and rewarding career. Across our business, many colleagues have progressed from frontline roles into leadership positions. 

We welcome efforts to give more young people the skills, confidence and experience they need not only to get into work, but to progress once they are there. By working together, employers, government and education providers can open up more opportunities for young people to build rewarding careers.

Sarah Yong, Deputy CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, said:  

Giving young people the opportunity to gain experience of the workplace and connect with employers can play an important role in helping them take their first steps into employment. For young people who have had limited opportunities to engage with employers, meaningful work experience can help build confidence, develop skills and give them a better understanding of what the world of work looks like. 

It is great to see the retail sector coming together to create more opportunities for young people to gain this experience and make valuable connections with employers. Exposure to the workplace, alongside the right employment support, can help young people move closer to and into good work. 

Hamish Shah, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Business Disability Forum, said:  

Work experience can be a vital first step into employment, helping young people build confidence, develop skills and understand what they have to offer an employer. We welcome this commitment from government and the retail sector to create more opportunities for young people to get that first foothold in the workplace. It is important, however, that these opportunities are genuinely accessible and inclusive. Disabled young people can face additional barriers when trying to enter the world of work, and employers have a crucial role to play in removing those barriers and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. By combining high-quality work experience with the right support and adjustments, this initiative can help open doors for a much wider range of young people and create a more inclusive workforce for the future.” 

Ellie Harris, Principal Research Fellow and Head of Children and Young People, IPPR, said:

Young people are full of ambition, but too many don’t have the support or opportunities they need to realise their aspirations.

This is a welcome first step towards giving young people a tangible route out of the cycle of missed opportunities that can leave them stuck and falling further behind.

Where you grow up still shapes the chances you get. Young people in some of the country’s most deprived towns have the most to gain from access to the experiences, networks and opportunities that others too often take for granted.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 26 August 2026.

The first young people supported by a new Government programme for the long-term unemployed have started their jobs.

• First cohort of young people start work through the Government’s Jobs Guarantee, delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to tackle youth unemployment
• Scheme aims to create opportunity for those furthest from the jobs market and is backed by major businesses, including Boots and OCS
• Over 90,000 fully funded jobs to be created by 2029 through the Jobs Guarantee, a key part of the Government’s £2.5 billion drive to tackle youth unemployment

The Jobs Guarantee scheme offers a direct route into work for all 18–24-year-olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months.

Roles on offer are matched to the individual’s skillset, with the government fully funding up to 25 hours paid work for six months to get individuals into the labour market.

More than 90,000 young people will be supported into work by the scheme in the next three years, with the first cohort of young people having already started positions at retail giant Boots.

Recognising that the longer people are out of work the more difficult it is to start working again, young people on the scheme get bespoke support to tackle barriers – from confidence building to skills training on the job. This means young people arrive at their new employer work ready and then continue to thrive.

The Jobs Guarantee is the latest intervention in the Government’s ongoing, extensive employment support for young people, backed by £2.5 billion investment. It marks a major step in the Prime Minister’s drive to get more young people into work and bring hope to more than one million young people who are not earning or learning – a rise of 248,000 between 2021-2024.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited Boots to meet some of the first cohort of young people starting work through the Jobs Guarantee in administrative, retail and warehouse support roles.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

Young people want to get on in life but for too long too many have been denied that opportunity. The Jobs Guarantee helps change that.

Seeing the first young people start their roles brings to life what this scheme is about: real jobs, proper wages, and a genuine route into a career.

As we roll this out to tens of thousands more young people across the country, we’re backing the next generation to succeed and backing British businesses to grow with the talent they need.

The Jobs Guarantee has been rolled out in areas with some of the highest levels of youth unemployment:

• Birmingham and Solihull
• The East Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Hertfordshire and Essex
• Central and East Scotland
• South East and South West Wales

Later this year the scheme will be expanded to all eligible 18-24 year olds who are on Universal Credit and have been looking for work for 18 months.

Anthony Hemmerdinger, Managing Director of Boots UK and Ireland, said:

We’re pleased to create opportunities for young people to secure work placements in our stores, offices and warehouses through the Jobs Guarantee.

Boots has a strong track record in supporting young people through our graduate schemes, work experience programmes, apprenticeships and youth employability partnership with The King’s Trust. We firmly believe that retail can play an important role in supporting young people to develop the confidence, experience, and skills that can shape their working lives.

Simon Smithson, Director of Youth Services, Ingeus

We’re delighted to be delivering Jobs Guarantee in the East Midlands. This programme represents a significant opportunity to help more young people access employment, develop new skills and secure brighter futures.

The commitment shown by employers such as Boots demonstrates the power of partnership. By bringing together employers, communities and support organisations, we can create high-quality opportunities that benefit individuals, businesses and the wider regional economy.

Local delivery partners will work with employers to match young people into roles and provide ongoing support to help placements succeed.

The Jobs Guarantee is part of the Government’s wider £2.5 billion youth employment investment which will support almost one million young people and open up 500,000 opportunities to earn or learn over three years – spreading opportunity to every postcode.

It comes alongside other incentives for business worth up to £8,000 for eligible young people and the biggest reforms in a generation to the apprenticeship system by putting more funding behind young people and tackling the 40% drop in apprenticeship starts over the past decade.

Additional Information::

• Eligible young people will earn at least the National Minimum Wage alongside minimum automatic enrolment contributions for the duration of their employment. Government will fund up to 25hrs/week at the NMW as well as pension contributions, for up to 6 months
• Government funds support to Jobs Guarantee participants to support them to overcome their barriers to work and succeed in employment on the scheme

Supportive quotes

Louise Goodlad, Direct of Delivery (Scotland), King’s Trust said:

The Jobs Guarantee reflects what The King’s Trust has long believed: that young people need both skills and opportunities to succeed, and that tackling youth unemployment requires government, employers and charities working together.

The King’s Trust has begun delivering the first phase of the Jobs Guarantee programme in Central and East Scotland, and we are seeing first-hand the determination of young people who want to work as they seize the opportunity to gain experience and develop their skills.

The Jobs Guarantee will create opportunities for young people at greatest risk of long-term unemployment while helping employers access the talent they need to grow.

Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO of Youth Employment UK, said:

We welcome seeing the Jobs Guarantee move from policy into real, paid opportunities for young people. For those who have been out of work for a long time, a good job can provide not only an income, but the experience, confidence and connections that help build a longer-term career.

This year’s Youth Voice Census data, being released on 10 September, shows that 75% of young people think paid work experience would help them get a job – a powerful reminder of just how important opportunities like these can be.

Sarah Williams, Chief People Officer, OCS said:

Getting that first job is hard, and the Jobs Guarantee Pilot is about making it a bit easier. Young people joining us on our client sites get real experience, new skills and a proper look at the range of careers here at OCS; with clear routes into permanent roles and apprenticeships. The pilot delivery is working well and we are fully committed to rolling it out nationally.

East Midlands Chamber, Chief Executive, Scott Knowles said:

Getting more young people into work and equipped with the skills employers need is essential to driving growth and the Jobs Guarantee scheme is an initiative I welcome for addressing that. 

With so many under 24’s not in Education, Employment or Training – NEET – supportive approaches like the Jobs Guarantee scheme that bridge the needs of employers with provision of opportunities for young people and a focus on upskilling during employment are a forward step. Tackling the skills gap, tackling youth unemployment and getting people into roles with the skills to thrive is what we want to see.

Daniel Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Hertfordshire being chosen as an initial rollout region for the Jobs Guarantee is a huge vote of confidence for our local economy. While major UK businesses are leading the first phase, the real transformational power of this programme lies within our vibrant SME sector.

“Fully funding 25 hours a week significantly mitigates the financial risk for growing local businesses and gives young people a genuine pathway into work. The Chamber’s message to Hertfordshire employers is clear. Take advantage of this support, back local young talent and help build your future workforce.”

Supportive quotes from SMEs delivering the Jobs Guarantee

A spokesperson for Matlock Ghost Emporium, said:

This initiative is a true win-win for independent businesses and young jobseekers alike. Bringing early-career talent into our studio gives our production capacity a real boost, allowing us to expand what we do while actively investing in the next generation of makers.

Watching a young person build their practical skills and grow in workplace confidence over six months is immensely rewarding, and we’d strongly encourage other small businesses to consider hosting a placement.

Antony Rhodes, Arc Communications, said:

Taking part in the Jobs Guarantee has been a really positive experience for our business. We have welcomed four young people into our office through the scheme, and they have already made a noticeable contribution to the team.

The scheme has given us the opportunity to bring in enthusiastic young people, provide them with valuable workplace experience and develop their skills, while also giving our existing team the opportunity to support and mentor the next generation.

We have been particularly impressed by the attitude and willingness to learn that the young people have shown. They have quickly become part of the team and are already adding value to the business.

We would definitely encourage other employers to consider getting involved. The Jobs Guarantee provides a fantastic opportunity to give young people a genuine start in the workplace while benefiting your own organisation.

Adam Tulloch, Founder & CEO, Total Insight Theatre, said:

At Total Insight Theatre, we’ve always believed in starting with what young people bring to the table – their ideas, perspectives, creativity and strengths – rather than focusing on how much experience they might have on paper. The Jobs Guarantee has enabled us to welcome six young people into meaningful roles across our organisation, and they’re very much part of the team.

We’re already benefiting from the fresh thinking, energy and different perspectives they bring to our work, while they gain paid experience and develop their skills. As an organisation that works with young people every day, having young people woven into the fabric of our own team really matters to us. I’d encourage other employers to get involved – there’s such genuine value on both sides.

Simone Connolly, CEO, FareShare Midlands said

Our experience of the Youth Job Guarantee has been overwhelmingly positive. We currently have three young people on placements at our Nottingham site, giving them the opportunity to build confidence, develop practical workplace skills and gain valuable experience in a busy warehouse environment.

The programme builds on the employability support we already provide through SkillsShare, helping young people who may face barriers to work take positive steps towards employment.

We understand that FareShare Midlands was the amongst the first organisations in the country to offer these placements, which we are very proud of. Based on our experience so far, we will certainly take part again and hope to offer further placements across all three of our sites in Birmingham, Leicester, and Nottingham.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 12 August 2026.

The Timms Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future. Its Interim Report, published in July 2026, found that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.

• Fifteen workshops being held online and in person will help shape the recommendations of the Timms Review into Personal Independence Payment.
• Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions invited to apply for workshops, with registration open from Wednesday 12 August 2026.
• Comes following the Review’s Interim Report which found PIP to be no longer fit for purpose.

Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are being invited to take part in a series of workshops that will help shape recommendations for the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Many people described assessment and decision-making processes as “stressful” and “dehumanising” and reported that PIP, while widely valued as a benefit, can itself create additional barriers to participation and independence.

Ahead of its final Report, due in Autumn 2026, the Review’s steering group is now developing emerging recommendations and will be seeking views on them from people across the UK.

The 15 workshops will be held online and in person across the UK during September and October 2026, ensuring people from all parts of the country can take part in discussing, testing and refining the recommendations.

The workshops are aimed primarily at disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and no previous experience of engaging with government reviews is required.

Alongside these workshops, the Review will also be contacting stakeholders including Disabled People’s Organisations, charities and MPs to test and refine its emerging recommendations over the same period.

Co-Chair of the Review and member of the shaping recommendations workshops working group Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE said:

Disabled people and people with long term health conditions know better than anyone how PIP works in real life where it helps, where it creates barriers, and where it needs to change. That experience has to be part of shaping what comes next.

I would encourage anyone with experience of applying for or receiving PIP to register their interest in taking part. The purpose of these workshops is not simply to hear people’s experiences, but to test the Review’s emerging recommendations against real lives and understand what could make them fairer, clearer and work better in practice.

Most importantly, I am committed to showing how what people tell us influences the recommendations we ultimately make.

Feedback from participants in these workshops will be considered by the Review as it finalises it recommendations. These workshops, alongside intensive engagement throughout the process, will ensure the Review is grounded in the experiences of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions before the report is submitted to the government.

Prior to this, more than 38,000 responses to the Review’s Call for Evidence were received, alongside workshops and engagement with disabled people, their organisations and experts, to feed into the Review.

Registration for the workshops opens on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 10am and closes on Friday 21 August 2026 at 5pm. Selected participants will be informed by 4 September 2026.

Selection will be done randomly but the steering group will review and ensure the people chosen represent a balanced range of characteristics. Where a particular characteristic is under-represented, applicants with that characteristic will be identified from the wider applicant pool and selected at random to fill any gaps.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 28 July 2026.

Thousands more young people will be able to gain the skills, qualifications and experience they need for future careers, as the government today rolls out a major package to break down barriers stopping access to technical education, training, and apprenticeships.

• New bursary supports young people by removing a key financial barrier to apprenticeships.
• Thousands more college places to expand access to skills and training close to home.
• Free apprenticeship training for all eligible under-25s from August, up to £8,000 in support for SMEs hiring young apprentices, and NICs relief for apprentices under 25 will help deliver 50,000 new youth apprenticeships.

Through new financial support, more college places and greater access to apprenticeships, the package will help more young people develop the skills local employers need, connect to the technical pathways being created in their area, and access the opportunities needed to build successful careers.

The measures form part of the Prime Minister’s wider mission to strengthen the link between education and work, ensuring no young person is left behind because they lack the opportunities, skills, or support to succeed.

Building on today’s wider reforms giving 14-year-olds greater access to technical learning and meaningful work experience, these changes will help more young people aged 16 to 19 continue developing practical skills and real-world experience as they move into the next stage of education and training.

A new bursary, worth up to £4,500 per year per household, will remove a barrier that can otherwise discourage young people from taking up an apprenticeship, helping them build the skills and independence that lead to long-term, well-paid work.

Apprenticeships are widely recognised to deliver skilled workers, higher productivity and stronger growth for the economy, and this bursary ensures more young people can access those benefits.

The bursary targets the small number of Universal Credit families for whom the current system disincentivises apprenticeships. A Social Security Advisory Committee report found single parents with a disabled child could lose up to £340 per week in benefits when a young person started an apprenticeship, exceeding the expected apprenticeship salary of £258 per week. The bursary addresses this shortfall, so that this is no longer a barrier to a young person taking up an apprenticeship.

The bursary, funded through the £1 billion additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy announced in May, will help stop young people from turning down the chance to earn and learn due to cost.

It is part of a wider package of apprenticeship support, including the government’s decision to fully fund apprenticeship training for all eligible under-25s from 1 August, helping thousands more young people take up an apprenticeship with confidence. Alongside new support for employers taking on apprentices, these reforms will help deliver 50,000 new youth apprenticeships by the end of this Parliament.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

Every young person deserves the chance to build a future they can be proud of, and our welfare system should be a springboard to opportunity, not a barrier to it.

By providing bursaries to those who need them most and fully funding apprenticeship training, we are making sure cost is not the reason someone misses out. Coupled with up to £8,000 in financial support for employers, this is a serious investment in the next generation and in the future of our economy.

This builds on wider investment already helping colleges grow where demand is highest – we are investing £9 billion into 16 to 19 education in 26-27, enabling providers to grow high-quality pathways for thousands more learners.

We are now going further, investing a further £287 million to create over 22,000 additional places across colleges and post-16 providers in other areas. Working across 87 projects in England, this includes expanding construction courses, helping more young people train for careers such as bricklaying, plumbing and decorating.

With over one million young people currently NEET – around one in eight young people in England – today’s action is another step towards ensuring more young people can stay connected to education, training, and opportunity as they move into adulthood.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said:

Too many young people face unnecessary barriers to apprenticeships, college places and training. We’re investing to change that.

This government is determined to help thousands more young people gain the skills, experience, and confidence they need to build successful careers.

The jobs of the future are already being created – and it’s our job to ensure that every young person, wherever they live and whatever their background, has the skills and support they need to succeed.

Boosting the number of college places, alongside much needed additional places in sixth form colleges and 16-19 academies, forms a key part of the government’s push to end the snobbery around hands-on learning. We want technical education to be every bit as valued as the academic route, so that every young person can choose the pathway that is right for them.

By creating clearer routes from school into college, apprenticeships and skilled work, the government is making sure young people can keep building towards a successful career rather than falling out of education at 16.

Today’s announcement is part of the biggest overhaul of support for young people in a generation. Alongside greater technical learning, more work experience, new vocational qualifications, and wider reforms to help young people into work, it will create a clearer journey from the classroom into a skilled career.

Together, these reforms represent a new partnership between government, employers, colleges, and local leaders to ensure every young person can progress from education into skilled work, while giving businesses the workforce they need to grow.

Additional Information

• The bursary and free training for under-25s is being funded through the £1 billion additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy, announced in May 2026. The final amount of the bursary will be confirmed in due course.
• As Universal Credit policy applies across Great Britain, we will be working closely with the Scottish and Welsh Governments as we develop the detail.
• The full list of colleges that will receive funding is available here: GOV.UK
• The Milburn Review found that of those NEET for less than a year, 65% return to participation the following year; of those NEET for more than a year, only 25% do.
• A recent report from the Social Security Advisory Council found that a single-parent household on Universal Credit could lose out by around £80 a week if a disabled young person took up an apprenticeship earning the apprenticeship minimum wage.
• From October 2026, smaller firms will receive a £2,000 hiring bonus for taking on under-25 apprentices.

Philip Hoare, Group Chief Executive, Balfour Beatty, said:

Apprenticeships change lives. They open doors to skilled careers, help employers build the workforce they need and play a vital role in supporting long-term economic growth.

We’re incredibly supportive of the Government’s commitment to removing barriers that prevent young people from accessing these opportunities and increasing support for employers investing in the next generation. As a long-standing champion of apprenticeships, Balfour Beatty sees first-hand the difference they make to individuals, businesses and communities across the UK.

Abdi Mohamed, Head of Policy, Research and Influencing at disability equality charity Scope, said:

This bursary is a positive step which removes a real financial barrier for some disabled young people.

A million disabled people in the UK want to work but face significant barriers getting into and staying in employment, so it’s encouraging to see the Government taking practical action.

Life costs a lot more if you are disabled. No young disabled person should have to turn down an apprenticeship because their family would be financially worse off.

We welcome this announcement and hope it is the first of many steps the Government takes to work with disabled people to tackle the wider structural barriers they face getting into and staying in work.

Brian Dow, Chief Executive, Mental Health UK:

Recognising the barriers that can prevent young people starting apprenticeships and employment opportunities sends a really positive message. We see in our programmes that young people want to earn and learn, but it’s crucial they have the right support to make this a reality.

Being out of work or education can take a significant toll on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. This is another step up in providing access to apprenticeships and other pathways into employment that will help young people build skills and experience, while providing a sense of purpose, confidence, and hope for the future.

Dominic King-Carter, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers Trust, said:

We know financial barriers are particularly real for young carers juggling care, work and education, especially those who are disabled themselves. This is a positive step towards reducing barriers into important opportunities like apprenticeships for this group.

There are more wins available to Government that would give all young carers the best chance of a fair future. This is another encouraging sign that this Government is willing to act to reduce barriers that young people face. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure young carers are better supported to access the education or training opportunities they want.

Lizzie Crowley, Senior Policy Advisor ‑ Skills at the CIPD, said:

The new bursary is a welcome and practical step that should remove a significant financial barrier for disabled young people and their families. No young person should have to turn down an apprenticeship because taking one up would leave their household worse off. Making apprenticeships genuinely accessible isn’t just fair to the individual, it’s how we close skills gaps and build the capability the economy needs.

Alongside wider support for youth apprenticeships, this should help more young people access the skills, experience and opportunities they need to build a successful career and help employers build the more inclusive, skilled workforce that drives better performance.

Simon Ashworth, Deputy CEO and Director of Policy, Association of Education and Learning Providers, said:

The new bursary of up to £4,500 a year is a welcome step that removes a significant financial barrier preventing some young people from both taking up and completing apprenticeship. By tackling the household benefit trap, more young people will be able to choose an apprenticeship based on their ambitions rather than their family’s finances.

If we are serious about reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training, we have to make it easier for employers to recruit them. Fully funding apprenticeship training for eligible under-25s is a major step towards that goal and should encourage many more businesses to invest in the next generation of young talent.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 July 2026.

Opening today (Tuesday 7 July 2026) the six-week call for evidence will gather views on: modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improving predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better supporting those with work and caring responsibilities.

• Carers, people with care needs and carers’ organisations encouraged to have their say on reforms to be made to the outdated system inherited from previous Government.
• Findings will inform work on the future modernisation of Carer’s Allowance.
• Comes after action taken to improve carers’ lives with the biggest ever boost to the earnings allowance.

Unpaid carers and their organisations are being invited to share their views on how to improve Carer’s Allowance, as part of the first major review of the benefit since it was first introduced half a century ago.

Issues with the Carer’s Allowance system inherited by the Government were laid bare in the landmark Sayce Review. This found unclear guidance on averaging fluctuating earnings left carers building up debts without realising, and that the earnings limit had failed to keep pace with modern working patterns.

The Government has already raised the weekly earnings limit to a record £204 a week, updated guidance, and taken decisive action to address the failures the Sayce Review identified. Carers can now earn around £10,000 a year while keeping their support.

This call for evidence goes further by looking at whether to introduce an earnings taper and changes to rules that cap how many hours a carer can work before losing their benefit, to reflect modern caring patterns.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

Unpaid carers are the backbone of our communities — quietly providing support that makes an enormous difference to the lives of those they love.

They deserve a system and level of support that properly reflects the contribution they make, and we are determined to deliver that.

This call for evidence is our commitment to going further — and to making sure carers’ voices shape every step of what comes next.

Earlier this year, the DWP launched a reassessment exercise reviewing 200,000 cases — with around 25,000 cases set to see debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded. New capital disregard regulations coming into force next week will ensure those refunds do not affect entitlement to Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.

Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said:

We need to see further reform to Carer’s Allowance because the current system is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of caring today. This includes inflexible rules around the earnings limit which are hard to navigate for carers with fluctuating earnings and can dissuade some from claiming what they are entitled to altogether.

We welcome the government’s call to gather further evidence around this and its acknowledgement that Carer’s Allowance, which was first introduced 50 years ago, should be a priority for change to better support those who contribute so much to society. Caring is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and so it’s important that the government hears from as many people as possible on this topic in the next six weeks.

Carer’s Allowance has supported carers and their loved ones since 1976 — but it hasn’t kept pace with how people work today. This call for evidence is the next step in changing that.

Carers, their organisations, and anyone with experience of caring are encouraged to have their say before the call for evidence closes on 18 August 2026.

The evidence gathered will inform future changes the government makes to Carer’s Allowance – putting carers voices at the heart of the effort to build a benefit that is fair, modern and reliable for the people who depend on it most.

Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust said: 

This major review of Carer’s Allowance is something we, carers, and the 130+ local carer services in our network have long called for. It has been clear for some time that Carer’s Allowance needs to be modernised and brought into the twenty-first century. Society, work and caring have all been thoroughly transformed since Carer’s Allowance was first introduced in 1976, so it’s incredibly encouraging that the Government has recognised this and committed to creating a system that not only reflects these changes but also gives carers the support they really need. 

We look forward to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure the voices of carers and the services dedicated to them are at the heart of any reforms to Carer’s Allowance. We want this review to be a real step change in the way carers are supported – paving the way for a fairer world for carers.

Additional information

• The call for evidence covers modern patterns of care that were not in place when Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976.
• Carer’s Allowance is available in England and Wales only, but views and experiences are sought from anyone in the UK.
• Carer’s Allowance is a devolved matter in Scotland. It has been fully replaced by the Scottish Government’s Carer Support Payment.
• Social security is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but the Department for Communities there maintains parity with DWP.