The UK Department for Work and Pensions has appointed former Marks & Spencer Chief Executive Marc Bolland as Lead Non-Executive Director to spearhead the government's Youth Guarantee initiative.
The move targets the crisis of one million young people currently out of employment, education, or training.
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Bolland will convene chief executives across multiple sectors to integrate business perspectives into policy delivery.
The initiative expands opportunities and establishes clear employment routes for individuals aged 16 to 30 facing severe structural barriers to work.
Government Investment and Review Findings
The appointment follows interim findings from the government-commissioned Alan Milburn Review on youth inactivity.
The report warned that without urgent intervention, the proportion of underemployed youth could rise from one-in-eight to one-in-six within five years, totaling 1.25 million people.
The government plans to invest £2.5 billion into the Youth Guarantee to secure education, training, or employment access.
This funding prioritizes early intervention for children facing behavioral risks, speech delays, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden initiated the review to identify and resolve long-standing causes of youth economic inactivity.
“The number of young people not in education, employment or training is a serious challenge that has been allowed to persist for too long,” McFadden said.
He added that Bolland's appointment reflects a serious commitment to resolving the employment challenge.
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Bolland previously founded the charity Movement to Work, which helped over 200,000 unemployed young individuals secure jobs.
“Marc Bolland’s appointment sends a clear signal that we are serious about tackling that challenge,” McFadden stated.
The department also requires senior officials to design comprehensive support frameworks with employers, charities, disabled people's organizations, and young citizens.
McFadden noted that he has commissioned senior officials to look at further support for young people, particularly those with health conditions.
Bolland has held senior corporate roles as CEO of Morrisons supermarkets and COO at Heineken.
“As founder and chairman of Movement to Work we have, in close cooperation with DWP, brought over 200,000 NEETs into work,” Bolland said.
Major employers including Severn Trent, the Premier League, Channel 4, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Pinewood Studios have committed to supporting the framework.
“I believe the Government is serious about tackling this generational crisis of youth unemployment,” Bolland added.
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The DWP previously brought in former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working Review.
