Liverpool City Region has been given a £5 million boost to support young people who are not in employment, education, or training.
As one of eight national Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, this initiative aims to develop innovative approaches to help these young people secure jobs or training opportunities.
This funding will strengthen and expand the mayor’s existing Young People’s Guarantee, which ensures that local young people receive job, training, or apprenticeship opportunities within six months.
Since the Mayor’s election, this program has already helped create over 60,000 jobs and 30,000 apprenticeships for residents.
The programme will integrate existing support services and test new strategies for engaging and supporting young people into employment.
One of the key features includes the Be More app and the transfer of £7 million from unspent Apprenticeship Levy funds to assist smaller companies.
Steve Rotherham, The Mayor of Liverpool told the public:
“This Youth Guarantee Trailblazer could be a real game-changer for young people in our region. Too often, young people from the Liverpool City Region are stopped from reaching their full potential, not by a lack of talent but a lack of opportunity.”
He added: “This £5m funding will give us the tools to try new and innovative ways to help those who need it most, making sure every young person has the opportunity to get on in life.”
This initiative is part of a broader £240 million investment to trial innovative ways of combating economic inactivity and addressing health-related barriers to employment for young people.
By leveraging these resources, the region aims to create a more effective support system, helping young people unlock their potential and contribute to the local economy.
Featured image provided by LJMU