WIREDGOV

Following today's publication of NEET figures, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships Iain Wright said:

There are record numbers of young people in education or training. Through our ‘September Guarantee’, we are giving all 16- and 17-year-olds the opportunity to stay in education or training so they can gain the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive labour market. We must not repeat the mistakes that were made in recessions of the past and abandon a whole generation of young people. We recognise that we need to carry on helping young people through this tough economic climate.

That’s why we have today announced a new commitment to build on our September Guarantee and provide every 16- and 17-year-old not in education, employment or training (NEET) in January 2010 with the offer of a place on an Entry to Employment course. We know that January is a key point in the year when additional support is needed, as seasonal employment and short courses come to an end and some young people realise that their initial choice was not right and are at risk of leaving learning. We will support this by providing additional funding for 10,000 new Entry to Employment places, and Education Maintenance Allowance to go with this.

We are continuing to focus on action for young people who are seeking employment right now, by offering early entry to the support offered by New Deal for 18-year-olds who have spent a period NEET and creating thousands of new jobs through the Future Jobs Fund. Budget 2009 announced that those young people who have been unemployed for 12 months will have a guaranteed offer of a job, training or other meaningful activity from early 2010.

For those graduates who can’t find work straight after university, the Government is also offering real help now, with internship and work experience opportunities. An additional 35,000 apprenticeship places for 19- to 30-year-olds will be created over the next two years.

Background

The September Guarantee forms a key part of the Government’s commitment to ‘Back Young Britain’ throughout the current tough economic climate. Total investment in education and training for 16-18 year olds will be over £6.9 billion in 2009/10 helping to secure more than 1.5 million education and training places, the highest ever. Budget 2009 announced additional investment of £655 million to help deliver the September Guarantee during the economic downturn.

In response to the economic downturn, we will build on the September Guarantee by providing every 16 and17 year old who is not in education, employment or training in January 2010 with an offer of an Entry to Employment place, and Education Maintenance Allowance to go with this.