One in eight young people are not in education, employment or training. The west of England youth guarantee trailblazer, including free bus travel for participants and connecting young people with skills support, is engaging over 135 employers. The trailblazer is helping to enrol young people on employability courses and providing work placements, giving them the skills and experience they need. Additional funding of up to another £5 million has been announced for the west of England youth guarantee trailblazer.

I am really proud of the work being led in the west of England—including by our fantastic Mayor, Helen Godwin—to help more young people. The trailblazer is engaging much more deeply with employers—it has engaged over 135 of them. It is helping to enrol young people on employability courses and giving them more work placements, giving them the skills and experience they need. As my hon. Friend knows, young people say that they need a job to gain experience, but in order to get the job, they need that experience. We are trying to turn that around. We have announced additional funding of up to another £5 million for that west of England youth guarantee trailblazer.