Major British retailers have joined forces with the UK government to launch a new work experience programme aimed at helping young people into employment.

The government said the scheme also aims to create up to 100,000 jobs for 18 to 24-year-olds by the end of this Parliament.

Developed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the British Retail Consortium, the Opening Shift initiative will provide more than 11,000 work experience placements with major retailers including Tesco, John Lewis, Waitrose, Asda, Currys, Costa Coffee, Boots, Lidl, and Marks and Spencer.

The voluntary programme will offer Universal Credit claimants aged 18 to 24 between two and four weeks of work experience, with participants completing between 16 and 35 hours per week. The government said placements will include workplace mentoring, interview experience and travel cost support where needed.

Following the placements, participants could be offered permanent roles where vacancies exist, added to employers' talent pools, or directed towards apprenticeships and other career opportunities.

The retail industry has also committed to a wider target of creating 100,000 jobs for young people who are not in employment, education or training by the end of the current Parliament.

The DWP will identify eligible candidates through Jobcentres, while participating retailers will deliver placements and workplace support.

Several retailers have outlined additional commitments as part of the initiative. Tesco said it would create 5,000 Opening Shift placements this year, while the John Lewis Partnership is targeting 1,000 roles for care-experienced young people by 2030 through its Building Happier Futures programme.

Earlier this year, the government appointed former Marks and Spencer chief executive and founder of the charity Movement to Work Marc Bolland to work with businesses and create more opportunities for young people. The government said he has played a central role in creating this new partnership.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said retail was well placed to tackle youth unemployment due to its size and nationwide presence.

“Retail is coming to the rescue for tens of thousands of young people struggling to take their first steps on the career ladder,” she said. “Too many are trapped in a no experience, no job doom loop.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the partnership would help young people gain the experience employers are looking for.

“Work experience can be life-changing, giving young people the skills, confidence and connections they need to take their first step into work,” he said.

The announcement builds on wider government youth employment initiatives, including the Jobs Guarantee scheme, which aims to support more than 90,000 young Universal Credit claimants into work over the next three years. Retailers including Boots and Lidl have already recruited participants through the programme.

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