Ex-M&S chief to help government tackle youth unemployment
Ex-M&S chief to help government tackle youth unemployment 5 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google George Wright Getty Images Marc Bolland also served as chief executive of Morrisons and chief operating officer at Heineken The former chief executive of Marks & Spencer has been brought in by the government to help get more young people into work after a review warned of a "lost generation". The review, authored by former minister Alan Milburn, found that one in six young people is set to be out of work, education or training in five years unless action is taken. Marc Bolland has been tasked with bringing business leaders together to expand opportunities for young people. He will also advise Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on how to respond to the review. Opportunities shrinking for too many young people, says major report on 'lost generation' "I believe the government is serious about tackling this generational crisis of youth unemployment, and I know that working hand-in-hand with business to support young people gives them the best possible chance of success," Bolland said. In his review, Milburn warned: "The problem is that for too many young people, opportunities are not growing, they're shrinking." He was tasked with investigating why so many 16- to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training - known by the acronym Neet. His review, and other statistics, found that six in 10 Neets had never had a job. Despite this, it found 84% of Neet young people surveyed want a job or training. The review came as official figures revealed more than one million young people were not in education, employment or training - the highest level in more than 12 years. After the release of Milburn's report, the government announced some of the UK's biggest businesses would back 300,000 work experience and training placements for young people over the next three years. Bolland also served as chief executive of Morrisons and chief operating officer at Heineken. In 2012, he founded the charity Movement to Work in response to the previous year's riots, helping more than 200,000 disadvantaged young people into work. Youth unemployment
Great move by the government to involve experienced business leaders like Marc Bolland. Lets hope he can help create more opportunities for young people to thrive.
Absolutely, industry insights are invaluable. But lets also ensure policies address root causes like education and skills mismatch.
While industry insights are crucial, truly addressing youth unemployment requires comprehensive strategies that include education reform and skills alignment. What specific measures do you think Marc Bolland and the government should prioritize to effectively tackle this issue?
Its encouraging to see a former executive from a major company like M&S using their experience and network to help address social issues like youth unemployment. With their expertise in human resources, operations, and management, they can likely bring valuable insights and solutions to the table. Its a great example of how successful professionals can give back to society and make a positive impact.