As fears surrounding mounting unemployment increase, the government has pledged to provide some 30,000 new traineeships for young people in England.
These traineeships will provide classroom-based lessons in English, Maths and CV writing, in addition to 90 hours of unpaid work experience. The £111 million scheme will provide firms in England with £1,000 for each place they offer.
Devolved powers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be provided with £21 million for similar schemes. The funding for traineeships will be announced by Rishi Sunak mid-week, when he is will unveil his economic plan to respond to the aftermath of the pandemic.
Traineeships are used to help individuals enter the workforce after education. They can last between six weeks and six months and are specifically aimed at those between the age of 16 and 24.
In a statement regarding the programme, the Treasury noted that: "Young people's employment prospects are expected to be disproportionately affected by the economic fallout of coronavirus.”
They continued that: "Expanding traineeships will be part of a wider package to support young people and to ensure they have the skills and training to go on to high quality, secure and fulfilling employment.”
According to government figures, three quarters of those who enter into a traineeship are in employment or further education within a year.
The chief executive of the Association of Colleges, David Hughes, said that: "We know that young people get treated very badly in recessions and will be at the back of the queue for jobs.
"What we want is a whole range of actions that the government can take: put money into colleges to give them a chance, incentivise employers to take on trainees, but also take on apprenticeships as well."
He concluded: "We need really bold action now on both the labour market and on skills."
