Resurgo welcomes the publication of the Youth Employment Guarantee as part of today’s Get Britain Working White Paper.  

The Youth Guarantee aims to tackle the growing rates of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, 946,000 16-24-year-olds are currently NEET, representing 13.1% of this group. 

The  ‘Youth Guarantee’ focuses on providing all 18-21 year olds in England with access to training, an apprenticeship, or support to find work. Being NEET while young is known to have a life-long negative impact on future earnings, the chance of being unemployed later in life, wage scarring and on physical and mental health. Those in this group who are facing barriers to work require specialist intervention in order to have the best chance not only of getting into work or further training, but of sustaining it and building a life-long career. 

Given Resurgo’s 20 years of experience in working with over 10,000 NEET young people, we know what works, and the Youth Guarantee will only be successful if support is targeted to those who need it most.  Resurgo’s Spear Programme is effective in tackling youth unemployment among those with barriers to employment. 75% of those who complete the Spear Programme not only get into work or education, but remain there a year later. The Spear programme uses coaching in small groups of 10-15 young people, and focuses on soft skills such as resolving conflict, making small talk and the hidden rules of the workplace, as well as hard skills such as CV writing, mock interviews and help making job applications.  

John did Spear in Leeds earlier this year. He said;

“I went into foster care at 9. While I was in care I suffered some abuse. In my early 20s I was drinking, doing drugs, cocaine, sometimes for three days straight. I woke up one day and thought I want to make a change. My social worker told me about the Spear Programme. They gave me a confidence I didn’t know I had. I’m now working 40 hours a week as a caretaker, and I look forward to coming to work every day.”  

Iona Ledwidge, Resurgo CEO, said,

“Young people in this country are hugely talented and have the potential to thrive, but they can only do this with the right support. I encourage the government to work with the third sector to draw on best practice, and fund interventions that are evidence-based. In 2022 the Department of Work and Pensions Employment Data Lab evaluated the Spear Programme and found that those who completed the programme are 25% more likely to be employed 12 months after the programme. Young people are the future of this country and any intervention should include those who need the most help; no one should be left behind.”