Vauxhall MP Florence Eshalomi has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden to a local Sainsbury’s store to launch a major new national initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment.
The partnership between the government and Sainsbury’s will create around 10,000 work experience and employability placements for young people over the next year, with the first opportunities launching this October. It sits alongside the government’s wider Youth Guarantee drive to get more young people into work.
Writing on social media after the visit, Eshalomi said:
“It was great to welcome the Prime Minister, Mayor of London and Sec State for Work & Pensions to Sainsbury’s for the announcement of the new 10,000 new work experience opportunities to help young people with the vital skills and experience for future employment.”
Tackling the “no experience, no job” cycle
The new Modern Work Experience Programme is designed to target communities with higher levels of free school meal uptake and areas where young people face significant barriers to entering the workforce.
Rather than relying on traditional one-off placements, the scheme provides repeated, practical workplace experiences. Participants aged 14 to 24 will gain hands-on exposure to sectors including retail, logistics, technology and business, alongside dedicated workshops covering CV building, interview preparation and job application skills.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“The youth unemployment crisis has been ignored for too long. This government is making it a top priority and bringing back hope.
“It’s great to see Sainsbury’s stepping up with 10,000 opportunities to help young people build confidence, gain experience and get a foot in the door.”
Bridging education and employment
The initiative builds on the government’s wider strategy to expand technical education routes alongside academic pathways, so young people leave education equipped with practical skills and professional networks regardless of their background.
Sadiq Khan praised the scheme for widening access to career opportunities across London and the UK, emphasising that access to the first rungs of the career ladder should depend on talent and potential rather than personal connections.
Schools and colleges across the country will be invited to register for the initiative starting in September.
