Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage young people to take up the apprenticeships and workplace opportunities available as part of their new skills reforms; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those reforms on the number of 16–24 year olds claiming Universal Credit while signed off work due to health conditions.

This government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer that will give greater flexibility to employers and support young people at the beginning of their careers.

In August 2025, we introduced new foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. They are underpinned by additional funding for employers of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career.

We are investing an additional £725 million to deliver the next phase of the offer and meet our ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We will expand foundation apprenticeships into sectors that traditionally recruit young people, launch a pilot with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities, and fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from the next academic year.

The government also facilitates the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), comprising around 2,500 employer and apprentice volunteers who go into schools and colleges to share their compelling stories and experiences of what apprenticeships can do for young people.

Regarding other workplace opportunities, nearly 900,000 young people (aged 16–24) on Universal Credit will receive a dedicated session and four weeks of intensive support with a Work Coach to help them find local work, training, or learning opportunities. Over 360 Youth Hubs are also being established across Great Britain, providing access to employment and support services for all young people, including those not on benefits. These hubs will offer joined-up, community-based support by partnering with health, skills, and voluntary sector organizations.

Additionally, up to 150,000 additional work experience placements and 145,000 bespoke training opportunities will be created, including Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which guarantee a job interview for participants at the end.

The Jobs Guarantee Scheme will also mean that every eligible 18–21-year-old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months will be guaranteed six months of paid employment (25 hours/week at minimum wage), with the government covering all employment costs. These initiatives are designed to support young people into employment and training with a strong focus on local opportunities and guaranteed paid work for those most in need.