Initiative targets 18-24 year olds not in education, employment or training
Major UK hospitality businesses, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Nando’s, and Wagamama, have committed to creating 100,000 paid employment opportunities. These roles are for young people aged 18-24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
The initiative was developed by UKHospitality in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions. This comes as ONS figures estimate that 981,000 young people aged 16-24 were NEET between April and June 2026.
Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, commented: “The Milburn Review estimates the cumulative annual cost of 1 million NEET young people at £125 billion. This is more than the UK’s annual spend on education. Getting this population back in the workforce is critical for the future of the UK economy. The government must work alongside industry to reengage young people who are NEET by facilitating alternate pathways into their employment.”
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Ms Flavell added: “Incentivising businesses through subsidies to train and hire young people can be an effective way forward for the government. It encourages industry investment in the skills development of people who are NEET, providing them with gainful employment which in turn contributes to the UK economy.”
This follows a similar announcement last month where major retailers committed to creating 100,000 jobs for young people. These initiatives emerge amidst increasing pressure on hospitality businesses from rising staffing, energy, and employer National Insurance costs.
Industry leaders have warned that the financial incentives to recruit younger, inexperienced workers have diminished. The government is also expected to review school exclusion reforms as part of wider efforts to prevent young people from becoming disconnected from education.
