Former M&S chief appointed to tackle UK youth unemployment crisis

Marc Bolland, former chief executive of Marks & Spencer and Morrisons, has been appointed as a government jobs adviser to address the escalating youth unemployment crisis in the UK. His role as lead non-executive director at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will involve leading a summit of business leaders and advising the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, on strategies to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Currently, about one million young people aged 16 to 24 fall into this category, a figure projected to rise to 1.25 million by the 2030s without significant intervention. Bolland’s appointment follows an interim report highlighting a worrying increase in youth unemployment, with many young people being deemed unfit to work due to health issues such as anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental conditions. The government emphasized Bolland’s existing involvement with the charity Movement to Work, which has helped over 200,000 unemployed young people secure jobs. His new role will focus on creating clear pathways into employment and training, particularly for disabled or mentally unwell youth, by collaborating with charities and business leaders across sectors. The UK’s youth unemployment rate is notably higher than in other developed countries, with about 12.5% of young people classified as NEET compared to 5% in the Netherlands. The report also revealed that six in ten young people have never held a job, a significant increase from four in ten in 2005. The economic impact of this crisis is estimated at around £125 billion, underscoring the urgency of government action. McFadden described Bolland’s appointment as a clear indication of the government’s commitment to tackling this long-standing issue. Bolland expressed his dedication to the role, emphasizing the importance of business collaboration in supporting young people’s employment prospects. His leadership is expected to bring renewed focus and practical solutions to a problem that threatens to create a “lost generation” without timely and effective intervention.