Labour MP Tony Vaughan has welcomed plans by Sainsbury’s to create 10,000 work experience opportunities for young people from October 2026, describing the announcement as “incredible news”.
The Folkestone and Hythe MP said his office would contact the company to explore how young people across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh could benefit from the scheme.
Writing on X, Vaughan said:
“Incredible news from Sainsbury’s - they’ll create 10000 work experience opportunities for young people, starting in October 2026!”
He added:
“My office will be in touch with the company today to see what benefits we can deliver for Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.”
Vaughan also welcomed Sainsbury’s decision to focus particularly on communities with higher proportions of schools offering free school meals, as well as young people who are not currently in employment, education or training.
He said:
“I’m also pleased to see that Sainsbury’s will be concentrating particularly on communities with a high proportion of schools offering free school meals, and young people who are not in employment, education, or training.”
The initiative comes as the Labour Government seeks to expand routes into work and skills for young people, including through new technical education pathways.
Vaughan linked the Sainsbury’s announcement to that wider agenda, saying he hoped more major employers would follow the company’s lead.
“This comes after the Government announced the launch of new technical education routes and I hope more businesses follow Sainsbury’s lead.”
The 10,000 placements are expected to give young people practical experience of the workplace and could help those who have struggled to access employment or training opportunities build confidence, skills and contacts.
For Labour, the announcement supports a wider effort to strengthen links between employers, schools and young people while creating more routes into work outside traditional academic pathways.
Vaughan said the priority now was to ensure communities such as Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh secure a fair share of the opportunities being created.
