Wales’ Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has this week set out details of a Young Person’s Guarantee for every young person under the age of 25 in Wales.
It is said that the plan will aim to provide everyone under 25 in Wales with the offer of work, education, training or self-employment – but how will the guarantee work? Here’s a look at what we know about the guarantee…
What is the Guarantee and why has it been created?
The Young Person’s Guarantee is an ambitious programme being undertaken by the Welsh Government, with the aim of providing everyone under 25 in Wales with the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment. The Guarantee was pledged in Welsh Labour’s campaign for the Senedd election earlier this year.
The Guarantee comes as young people have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, many young people worked in the hospitality, retail and similar sectors – many of which have seen large job losses as a result of the pandemic. Lockdowns over the last year have also had a devastating impact on young people’s education, raising concerns about future job prospects.
Earlier this year, a report by the Senedd’s (Welsh Parliament) cross-party economy, infrastructure and skills committee found that Welsh ministers should take action to stop what it described as a “monumental spike in youth unemployment”.
How will the Guarantee work?
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has called on businesses and public sector organisations to consider how they can play their part in supporting the Guarantee, while ministers are also to consider ways of helping young entrepreneurs to create their own businesses.
Working Wales, a service delivered by Careers Wales with funding from the Welsh Government and European Social Fund, will become the gateway into the Guarantee. Currently, the service delivers careers guidance and signposts support, and it is to also trial a new Job Matching Service to assist young people with securing employment.
Wales’ Regional Skills Partnerships are also set to be expanded and allow greater collaboration between the Welsh Government, education and training sectors, and employers and public authorities.
What has the Government said about the Guarantee?
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has said that the Welsh Government is “determined that there will be no lost generation in Wales as a result of the pandemic.” Speaking about the Guarantee, he said;
“The Young Person’s Guarantee is at the core of our efforts to help young people get the best possible start in the world of work. We want to give young people the support they need for a brighter future when leaving school, college, university or even facing redundancy.
“We need to ensure young people have the skills and experience they need for the jobs of today and the future. This is a key element of our strategy to prevent youth unemployment and ensure young people are not held back nor left behind.”
Has this type of Guarantee been tried elsewhere?
Yes. Scotland has a similar, but slightly different Young Person’s Guarantee.
The Young Person’s Guarantee in Scotland aims to give all young people in the country aged 16-24 years old the opportunity of a job, training, apprenticeship, education or formal volunteering.
Last year, the first organisations signed up to back the Guarantee, including SSE, Capgemini and Standard Life Aberdeen.
