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Frameworks turning skills policy into youth jobs

News
Grace Bamforth
02 Jul 2026

YPO has welcomed the Government’s announcement to create 300,000 new work experience and training placements to help young people on to the career ladder.

The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) is rising, with 729,000 people aged 16 to 24 unemployed between January and March 2026, 16.2% higher than in the same period last year.

The Government proposals form part of a wider package of support for young people, including a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and 50,000 additional youth apprenticeships.

In November 2024, the UK Government published the Get Britain Working White Paper, setting out reforms designed to tackle youth unemployment and increase access to skills, training and employment support.

The aim of these new opportunities is to ensure every young person has the chance to earn or learn, while reducing the number of young people classed as NEET, which is edging closer to one million.

With Britain and local authorities previously facing the risk of a lost generation, YPO’s own Apprenticeship and Associated Training 1086 Framework provides industry-specific opportunities that help learners and young people take the next step on the career ladder.

Since launching in 2018, YPO’s framework has supported approximately 4,130 call-off contracts across sectors and regions, including policing, fire and rescue, local authorities, education and the NHS.

YPO’s initiative acknowledges that apprenticeships can make a tangible difference in local communities by addressing skills gaps, tackling unemployment and opening up opportunities for people pursuing a new career path or entering a new sector.

Simon Hill, YPO’s Managing Director, said: “The Government has set out a clear ambition to widen opportunities for young people. The next challenge is delivery for local authorities and public sector organisations.

“YPO’s framework offers a compliant, efficient way to expand apprenticeships where they are needed most and helps turn national skills policy into practical delivery.”

“Last year alone, almost 4,060 learners started or progressed in their careers through an apprenticeship delivered via YPO’s framework, demonstrating how procurement can support the Government’s ambition to widen opportunities for young people.”

The Government’s announcement will also be welcomed by councils facing local labour shortages and youth unemployment, but local authorities need practical ways to turn that ambition into delivery.

One of the biggest barriers to expanding apprenticeship provision is not a lack of willingness from contracting authorities, but the complexity of finding compliant training providers at pace. The YPO framework offers organisations and contracting authorities a simplified, compliant procurement route, removing some of the complexity and administrative burden that can otherwise deter them from offering apprenticeships.

YPO’s offering provides access to pre-approved suppliers, cost efficiency, transparency and alignment with UK Apprenticeship Levy rules and government skills priorities, helping employers and learners to upskill quickly in areas of need.

In response to the Government’s focus on sectors such as construction, health and social care, and hospitality, YPO’s framework gives employers access to around 300 apprenticeship providers to meet a wide range of workforce needs. Social care is already one of the areas seeing the highest demand through the framework.

For more information about YPO initiatives, see here.

Grace Bamforth

Author

Grace Bamforth

PR and Communications Officer

YPO

Grace is a PR and Communications Officer, responsible for assisting in internal communications, PR and public affairs across the organisation. Grace manages stakeholder engagement and crafts content for diverse audiences. She supports corporate communications initiatives, including strategic partnerships, sponsorships, events and awards, ensuring YPO’s reputation and relationships remain strong.