£5 million scheme to help young people find work or training

A new pot of funding has been agreed to help young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) and match them to opportunities in the East Midlands.  

The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer (YGT) initiative has £5 million in funding to support young people aged 18-21 and will help them overcome barriers for getting jobs or training.  

The project was approved by the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward at the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Board on Monday 10 March 2025.  

The YGT builds on the success of the EMCCA Careers Hub, which already helps young people explore their education and career options. The new funding will provide even more support for young people at risk of becoming NEET, offering them tailored programmes that give them the skills and support they need to succeed. 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am proud we are leading the way as a Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, as we directly address the challenges young people face when trying to enter the workforce.

“We want to make sure every young person in the East Midlands has the chance to succeed, no matter their background. This initiative is about giving young people the help they need to move from education to employment.

“We want to make a real difference to the lives of young people so they can succeed in life, and we want to ensure that businesses in our region can offer good opportunities for them. By working together, we can help young people build a better future for themselves and for the whole community.” 

The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer will focus on three key areas: 

• Transitions – the programme will help young people transition from school or college into work. This includes flexible learning and work placements for young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or who face health challenges. 
• Tailored Support – supporting young people who need extra help. This includes mental health support, job training, and programmes for care leavers, young people with disabilities, and those from rural or urban disadvantaged areas. 
• Employer Participation – the programme will work to encourage businesses to offer job opportunities to young people. A key part of this is the enhancement of a digital platform called Opportunities Online, which will connect young people with job listings, training programmes, and career advice. 

The East Midlands is one of eight regions chosen to lead the way with this Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme. The initiative is part of the UK Government’s Get Britain Working plan to tackle youth unemployment and help young people get back into the workforce. 

This new programme will help reduce the number of young people in the East Midlands who are NEET and give them the skills and support they need to succeed in work or education. It has been developed in collaboration with partners and young people. It is also part of a wider effort to create a more inclusive and skilled workforce in the region. 

As part of this, we are inviting written expressions of interest from organisations that can contribute to the successful delivery of the Trailblazer. If your organisation is interested in playing a role, we would love to hear from you by Tuesday 18 March. Please email youngvoices@eastmidsdevo.org.uk.