Ex-M&S chief to help government tackle youth unemployment

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The former chief executive of Marks & Spencer has been brought in by the government to help get more young people into work after a review warned of a “lost generation”.

The review, authored by former minister Alan Milburn, found that one in six young people is set to be out of work, education or training in five years unless action is taken.

Marc Bolland has been tasked with bringing business leaders together to expand opportunities for young people.

He will also advise Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on how to respond to the review.

Opportunities shrinking for too many young people, says major report on ‘lost generation’

“I believe the government is serious about tackling this generational crisis of youth unemployment, and I know that working hand-in-hand with business to support young people gives them the best possible chance of success,” Bolland said.

In his review, Milburn warned: “The problem is that for too many young people, opportunities are not growing, they’re shrinking.”

He was tasked with investigating why so many 16- to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training – known by the acronym Neet.

His review, and other statistics, found that six in 10 Neets had never had a job.

Despite this, it found 84% of Neet young people surveyed want a job or training.

The review came as official figures revealed more than one million young people were not in education, employment or training – the highest level in more than 12 years.

After the release of Milburn’s report, the government announced some of the UK’s biggest businesses would back 300,000 work experience and training placements for young people over the next three years.

Bolland also served as chief executive of Morrisons and chief operating officer at Heineken.

In 2012, he founded the charity Movement to Work in response to the previous year’s riots, helping more than 200,000 disadvantaged young people into work.