Andy Burnham’s Youth Employment and Support Plans
Andy Burnham, in his keynote leader’s speech in Liverpool, promised to provide “the right support for our young people when they need it”, including improved support when they are trying to go into the workplace.
The prime minister’s first speech to the Labour Party conference was dominated by four key pledges: to “tweak” the triple lock on state pensions from 2030, to strengthen ties with Europe, to set up a national commission for electoral reform and to create a national care service, free at the point of use.
But Burnham, aware of the impending final report on Neets from former health secretary Alan Milburn, also said the goal will be to help young people back into work.
Burnham told the conference the government would “change the education system and the welfare system” to better serve young people.
“We are going to rebuild in this country a system of comprehensive education with parity between academic and technical,” he declared.
“Good quality pathways for all from age 14 and the right support for our young people when they need it. A 45 day work placement between 16 and 18, an apprenticeship at 18.
“We will need young people to take up the help that is offered to them – making sure that there is in-work support and that those out of work do not lose confidence and connection.”
“We need a fundamental rethink of the welfare system to find the money for these opportunities upfront,” he told party members.
“And we will expect young people to embrace the help made available to them – providing support in work, and not leaving those out of work to lose confidence and connection. “This is a different kind of welfare,” Burnham added.
Business Reaction to Burnham’s Speech
The reaction to Burnham’s speech from business and employers’ associations has been largely on the issue of social care.
“Government is about choices and the prime minister deserves credit for being prepared to ask tough questions about the long-term sustainability of the state pension in an effort to address the challenge of social care,” said Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief executive.
“Business will welcome a frank discussion of the trade-offs that are necessary to ensure enduring reform. “Milburn’s recommendations must be delivered in the same ambitious spirit in tackling youth unemployment and that will depend on creating the conditions for businesses to grow, invest and create the jobs that young people need.
It was right for Burnham to focus on routes to opportunity in his address, said Kevin Fitzgerald, UK managing director at Employment Hero. He said: “Britain does not have a problem with motivation within its young workforce. It’s a first-time issue.
With typical corporate jobs disappearing, young people are gravitating toward the areas where they can acquire practical skills and envision a future. Gen Z employment in construction and the trades is up 11.3% between May and August – over three times the rate of growth in retail and hospitality. They’re also working for free to get experience and teaching themselves skills in areas like AI since they realise the goal posts are moving.
“But the cost of giving someone a first chance is going up. Today, employers have to pay 10% more to hire someone full-time than they did 12 months ago, and that means firms are less inclined to take a chance on a young person.”
National Care Service and Social Care Reform
Sir Ciaran Devane, chief executive of the NHS Alliance, said: “A better funded, universal national care service would be a major improvement on the existing situation, but it will not, on its own, integrate better with the NHS.
It will be crucial to make sure reforms are breaking down the barriers between health and social care, so both sides of the system are really working toward shared goals and offering a seamless experience for patients, as well as looking at the funding model, he said.
“We should also be careful not to assume that better integrated health and social care will always save money. For example, a reduction in hospital admissions or delayed discharges from hospital will produce a better experience for patients. “But the money is only saved – and can only be recycled into social care – if the NHS can de-staff and shut wards.
Recruitment and Workforce Plans
Shazia Ejaz, director of campaigns at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said: “Employment businesses and the skilled and dedicated people who work through them are a major part of the workforce plan needed for the national care service to be well-staffed and deliver the service the prime minister aims to create and the country needs. We must absorb the lessons of NHS staffing policy which has put politics before pragmatic.
“Instead we encourage the government to take a fresh approach to politics and problem solving as it pertains to staffing a national care service, as the Prime Minister mentioned in his speech. That requires a cooperation approach with the private sector and ongoing dialogue to produce a workforce plan that will deliver on the scale needed.”