A new employability programme has been launched in Greater Manchester to help tackle youth unemployment in the city and support vulnerable young people, including care leavers, into work.
The 12-week ‘Level Up’ programme is run by charity Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) and is for local people aged 16 to 25 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). It has been funded by the inclusive retail platform N Brown who have chosen GMYN as its charity partner.
GMYN’s chief executive, Alex Fairweather, said: “It’s an extremely challenging time for young people looking to take their first step on the career ladder. It’s clear from both employers and the job seekers themselves that new starters are not always arriving with the preparation they need to succeed, and more urgent work needs to be done to get young people excited and ready for work.
“Level Up recognises the importance of ensuring the next generation feel comfortable and confident in the workplace, so that Manchester businesses can continue to thrive.”
In recent weeks Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that young people who have been out of work for 18 months will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement as part of a new ‘youth guarantee’.
The latest national data from the Office for National Statistics, published in February, suggest more young people were not in work, education or training at the end of 2024 than at any point in the past 11 years.
Manchester City Council’s latest figures show that in June 2024 there were 772 16-17-year-old residents in Manchester who were NEET, an increase of 42.2% compared with June 2023.
Matthew*, 18, has been helped by GMYN on his employability journey and says the charity’s support has boosted his confidence and taken the ‘fear’ out of entering the workplace.
He says: “There are loads of barriers in the way for people of my age trying to find work, and that became so much worse after lockdown because we were held back for so long from socialising and working.
“Personally, I found readjusting back to things really challenging, especially speaking to new people and being in a different setting. My confidence was really knocked. Working with GMYN has done a lot for building up my confidence and skills again. It’s also helped take the fear out of entering a workplace.
“I really feel that we, as young people, have qualities that employers should value and look for. I’d love to see all businesses take the time to get to know young people and what they can bring to work- like what GMYN does – rather than pre-judge us based on our age or circumstances.”
The Level Up programme is focused on supporting vulnerable young people often facing the most complex barriers, including care leavers nearly 40% of whom are not in employment, education or training.
Those who take part in the programme get a four-week paid work placement tailored to their interests hosted by an employer in Greater Manchester. GMYN takes care of recruitment, work checks, and young people’s payrolls and payment to allow employers to focus on providing safe and productive placements.
The Level Up programme also includes 25 hours of paid training, covering essential skills like financial literacy, resilience and workplace expectations, with a focus on practical skills such as preparing for interviews and writing a CV and personalised support.
Employers who want to be part of the ‘Level Up’ programme can register their interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/hz55Ctg9yQ
