Youth Employment Must Be a Cross-Party Commitment

Today, our founder Roman Dibden joined LBC News to discuss Marks & Spencer’s announcement of 1,000 new training and placement opportunities for young people.

The announcement is undoubtedly positive news.

At a time when more than one million young people across the UK are not in employment, education or training, every organisation willing to invest in the next generation deserves recognition. M&S should be applauded for creating opportunities that could help hundreds of young people gain valuable experience, confidence and a route into long-term careers.

However, during the interview, Roman raised a question that often Recieves far less attention:

What happens to the thousands of young people who apply but are unsuccessful?

You can watch the full LBC News interview below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKZi_A1tgAY

“No matter what your political allegiance is, we have to find a way to solve the current youth unemployment crisis.” - Roman Dibden, Founder of BREAKOUT, speaking on LBC News.

Life Is Rarely Linear

During the discussion, Roman spoke about a challenge that sits at the heart of the youth employment crisis.

“The problem with policy announcements sometimes is that we assume life is linear and that is rarely the case.”

Young people leave education with different experiences, different circumstances and different levels of support around them. Some face barriers related to confidence, health, caring responsibilities, finances or personal challenges that are often invisible to the systems designed to support them.

The transition from education into employment is rarely straightforward.

When opportunities are discussed, the focus is often on those who successfully progress. Less attention is given to those who miss out, lose confidence or simply fall off track.

The real test of any system is not whether it helps those already moving forward.

It is whether it helps those who need support finding their way back.

Every Young Person Deserves Someone In Their Corner

During the interview, Roman reflected on his own journey and the role a trusted adult played in helping him navigate difficult circumstances.

Growing up, he was fortunate to have a careers adviser called Linda who reached back out when she did not have to.

That support made a lasting difference.

It is also one of the reasons BREAKOUT was created.

At BREAKOUT, we believe every young person deserves someone in their corner.

Not simply when things are going well, but especially when they are not.

Behind every statistic is a young person with potential, ambitions and aspirations. Sometimes the difference between disengagement and opportunity is having somebody who believes in them, helps them navigate challenges and supports them to take the next step.

Learning From What Works

The conversation also touched on the Netherlands, a country often recognised for its significantly lower youth unemployment rate.

One of the principles commonly associated with the Dutch system is the idea that there should be “no dead ends” for young people.

While no system is perfect, the principle itself is powerful.

When a young person falls off track, the focus should not be on assigning blame. The focus should be on ensuring there is a pathway back into education, employment or training.

This matters not only for individual young people, but for communities, employers and the wider economy.

The cost of lost potential is too high for any of us to ignore.

Technology Can Help, But People Still Matter

The interview also explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in supporting job seekers.

While technology undoubtedly has a role to play, Roman argued that AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a solution in itself.

Technology can help scale support, improve access to information and create efficiencies.

But it cannot replace trusted relationships.

It cannot replace mentors.

And it cannot replace the people working every day in youth and community settings who understand the realities young people are facing.

As new solutions emerge, it is essential that investment reaches the organisations and individuals building those trusted relationships on the ground.

This Must Be Bigger Than Politics

Perhaps the most important message from the interview was that youth employment must become a national priority that transcends political cycles.

“No matter what your political allegiance is, we have to find a way to solve the current youth unemployment crisis.”

The scale of the challenge demands a collective response.

This is not an issue that can be solved by one employer, it cannot be solved by one charity and it cannot be solved by one political party.

It requires collaboration between employers, educators, community organisations, policymakers and young people themselves.

There are already incredible organisations, mentors, educators and employers creating opportunities across the country.

The challenge now is how we bring those efforts together at scale.

Because every young person deserves a pathway forward and no young person should be left behind when life does not go to plan.

Therefore, youth employment must be a cross-party commitment.