Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Youth Guarantee Trailblazer Areas

Monday 12 October 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The early evidence from youth guarantee trailblazer areas indicates increased participation and better preparation for work among young people.
  • The Department is fully funding apprenticeship training for all eligible under-25s starting from 1 August.
  • A hiring incentive of 2,000 is being introduced for small businesses taking on young apprentices, rising to 5,000 if the apprentice has been on universal credit for six months or more.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Pakes
Employment Local Government
Context

The MP inquired about the youth guarantee trailblazer areas which aim to help young people into work. The MP wanted to assess the impact of these areas on young people's life prospects.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the youth guarantee trailblazer areas on young people's life prospects?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The early evidence is encouraging, showing more participation and getting young people work-ready. There will be a full evaluation next year. Delivering employment support more locally through mayors and local authorities is the direction of travel, and we will do more of this in the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The full impact assessment was not provided

How: Turning To The Question

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Q2 Andrew Pakes
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP highlighted high levels of NEETs and skills shortages in Peterborough and asked how the Department can ensure young people and businesses can find each other.

Question

What more can the Department do to ensure that young people and businesses can find each other as we invest in apprenticeships?

Answer from Pat McFadden

From 1 August this year, we are fully funding apprenticeship training for all eligible under-25s. We have brought the National Careers Service into the Department for Work and Pensions, meaning that around 500 qualified careers advisers are now helping people of all ages to access careers support regardless of benefit status, and doing that skills matching.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Suella Fernandes Con Fareham
Employment Business & Trade Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP noted more than 1 million young people are not in education, employment, or training, and called for direct support to small businesses taking on young apprentices.

Question

Will the Secretary of State take this chance to support Reform UK's apprenticeship wage credit, which will provide direct support to small and medium-sized businesses when they take on a young apprentice?

Answer from Pat McFadden

We are introducing a hiring incentive of £2,000 for a small business that takes on a young apprentice, and if that young person has been out of work and on universal credit for six months or more, that incentive goes up to £5,000.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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