A programme run by charity Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) aims to tackle unemployment by supporting vulnerable young people.
Level Up is a twelve-week employment programme which is being offered to young Salfordians aged 16-25 who are not currently in education, employment or training (NEET).
It provides a four-week work placement tailored to their interests, hosted by a local employer. The programme also gives the young people 25 hours of paid training, teaching them essential skills, financial literacy, resilience and workplace expectations.
GMYN’s chief executive, Alex Fairweather, said: “It’s an extremely challenging time for young people looking to take their first step on the career ladder.
“It is clear from both employers and the job seekers themselves that new starters are not always arriving with the preparation they need to succeed, and more urgent work needs to be done to get young people excited and ready for work.
Greater Manchester Youth Network is looking for more Salford businesses to partner with them in offering opportunities for young people to get onto the career ladder.
National data taken from the Office of National Statistics, published February 2025, suggests that 2024 figures for unemployed young people are the highest they have been in eleven years.
Latest figures from Manchester City council from June 2024 show that there were 772 young people aged 16-17 who were NEET, which is an increase of 42.2% from June 2023. In 2024, the approximate number of NEET young people in Salford was 370.
The programme focuses on supporting vulnerable young people who are facing complex barriers. It has been recorded that nearly 40% of care leavers are not in education, employment or training.
N Brown Group, a digital retail platform based in Manchester, have committed to funding a course for ten young people.
Natalie Rodgers, chief people and sustainability officer at N Brown, said: “As one of the oldest businesses in Manchester, we are passionate about supporting local causes and we’re looking forward to building a meaningful partnership with GMYN to support young people in Greater Manchester.”
Employers who want to register their interest should click here.
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