Retail giants join government scheme to deliver thousands of work placements for NEET youth

Coordinated by the Department for Work and Pensions and the British Retail Consortium, the Opening Shift initiative aims to match young universal-credit claimants with short-term work experience at roughly 40 retailers such as Tesco, John Lewis, Curry’s and Costa Coffee. More than 11,000 placements lasting two to four weeks have been pledged, each concluding with an interview to improve hiring chances. The programme supports the government’s goal of delivering 100,000 jobs for NEETs before the next election.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden described it as a major step toward breaking the “no experience, no job” trap that affects about 60% of NEETs. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson called high-quality experience essential for young people to enter the career ladder. Former M&S chairman Marc Bolland and former cabinet minister Alan Milburn have been enlisted to expand opportunities, with officials urging other sectors to follow the retail example.