Former M&S Chief Marc Bolland Appointed to Tackle UK Youth Unemployment
Marc Bolland, former chief executive of Marks & Spencer, has been appointed by the government to address youth unemployment in the UK. This move follows a stark warning from a review conducted by former minister Alan Milburn, which projected that one in six young people faces being out of work, education, or training within the next five years unless decisive action is taken.
Milburn Review Highlights "Lost Generation" Risk
Milburn’s review, commissioned to investigate the persistent issue of 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training (NEET), underscored that for many, opportunities are diminishing rather than expanding. The report revealed that six in ten NEET individuals have never held a job, despite 84% expressing a desire for employment or training. Official figures corroborate this, indicating that over one million young people are currently NEET, marking the highest level in over 12 years.
Business Engagement Central to Bolland’s Remit
Bolland's primary responsibility will be to galvanise business leaders to expand work experience and training placements for young people. He will also advise Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on implementing responses to Milburn’s findings. Following the review's publication, the government announced commitments from major UK businesses to provide 300,000 work experience and training placements over the next three years.
Bolland brings extensive experience, having previously served as chief executive of Morrisons and chief operating officer at Heineken. In 2012, he established the charity Movement to Work, which has since supported over 200,000 disadvantaged young people into employment.
