The North East has the UK’s highest rate of 16 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training (NEET), which was 19.6% in March 2026 – the equivalent of around 59,600 people.
A £10m initiative to create 1,500 new apprenticeships across the North East by 2029 should represent “just the start” of efforts to tackle our region’s youth unemployment emergency. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and council leaders approved proposals this week to launch a new pilot scheme designed to give greater opportunities to young people at risk of dropping out of education or employment.
The North East has the UK’s highest proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training (NEET), at 19.6% in March 2026 – representing around 59,600 people. There is nationwide concern over the NEET emergency, with former health secretary Alan Milburn leading a review into how to prevent a “lost generation”.
The North East mayoral authority’s cabinet has approved the area to be the pilot location for a new apprenticeship brokerage program backed by a £10m Government investment. The program seeks to create stronger links between entrepreneurs and young people, improve the ability of businesses to recruit apprentices, and create a clear route to local employment – with an initial focus on leisure and tourism, housing, and advanced manufacturing.
The pilot is anticipated to deliver 1,500 additional apprenticeship starts for young people aged 16 to 24 by March 2029, of which 375 are predicted to be NEETs. However, it is set to be expanded further – with the mayor’s office anticipating the second tranche of funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to increase the pilot still further.
Ms McGuinness told the meeting that the 1,500 opportunities created “should be a start”. He added: “It is [the NEET rate in the North East] it is unacceptable and we have not done enough to help them move up the career ladder. I strongly believe that every child, regardless of background, every young person deserves a chance and they don’t have to meet dead ends. They have to meet the tools to do it.”, reports Chronicle Live.
Sunderland City Council leader Chris Eynon identified Nissan and Northumbrian Water as key regional employers enthusiastically involved in the apprenticeship pilot. The Reform UK councilor added: “There are too many people who are NEET. As Einstein said, if we keep doing the same thing and expect different results it’s crazy. A good opportunity with the apprenticeship broker pilot to try and break the cycle that goes after the same previous approach but did not get the desired results.”
Colin Ferguson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Newcastle City Council, gave a hearty welcome to his pledge to support small businesses who consider taking on apprentices a financial risk.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that more small businesses “feel they can take on apprenticeships, do them safely, do them productively”.