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New initiative aligns closely with priorities identified in the Kent & Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan
The Government’s Youth Guarantee is being rolled out to provide additional support for young people across the country, creating new pathways into employment, apprenticeships, training and further learning opportunities. The initiative forms part of the Government’s wider ambition to ensure every young person can access the support they need to develop skills, gain experience and progress into sustainable employment. Significant investment has been committed to employment and skills programmes, with elements of the Youth Guarantee already being tested through trailblazer areas across England.
The announcement is particularly relevant to Kent and Medway, where supporting young people into good-quality jobs and career pathways is a recurring theme throughout the newly published Kent & Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) 2026–2029.
The LSIP highlights concerns around growing numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), alongside the need for stronger employer engagement, improved work experience opportunities and clearer progression routes into priority sectors. These themes mirror many of the objectives underpinning the Youth Guarantee.
Camilla Maurice, LSIP Project Manager for the Kent & Medway LSIP, said:
“The Youth Guarantee is a welcome development that reflects many of the challenges and opportunities identified by employers during the development of the Kent & Medway LSIP. Employers consistently told us they want to see stronger connections between education and the workplace, better careers awareness and greater support for young people as they make the transition into employment.
By bringing together employers, training providers, schools, colleges and employment support services, we can help create clearer pathways into the sectors that will drive Kent and Medway’s future economy.”
The Kent & Medway LSIP identifies six priority sectors where employers continue to report skills shortages and recruitment challenges:
Improving access to careers information, work experience, apprenticeships and vocational training across these sectors is a key focus of the plan.
The Youth Guarantee also places a strong emphasis on employer involvement, recognising that businesses play a critical role in providing work experience, apprenticeships, workplace learning and employment opportunities for young people. This aligns closely with the employer-led approach that sits at the heart of the LSIP programme.
What Does the Youth Guarantee Mean for Employers?
Alongside support for young people, the Government has announced a range of incentives designed to encourage employers to create new opportunities for young talent.
These include a new Youth Jobs Grant, which provides employers with £3,000 for each eligible 18–24-year-old recruited through the scheme, alongside a £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for eligible SMEs taking on new apprentices aged under 25. Government reforms are also expanding Foundation Apprenticeships and increasing the number of supported employment opportunities available through the Jobs Guarantee.
For Kent and Medway employers facing skills shortages across construction, manufacturing and engineering, hospitality, adult social care, creative industries and the land-based sector, these initiatives present an opportunity to attract new talent, develop future skills pipelines and support the next generation of workers. The incentives also align closely with the ambitions set out in the Kent & Medway LSIP, which calls for stronger employer engagement, increased work experience opportunities and clearer pathways from education into employment.
Find Out More: Free Employer Webinars from East Kent Colleges Group
Businesses interested in learning more about the Youth Guarantee and the support available can join a series of free employer webinars being delivered by East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group). The sessions will provide practical guidance on the Youth Jobs Grant, apprenticeship incentives, available funding and how employers can access support to recruit and develop young talent.
Upcoming webinars include:
During the sessions, employers can find out more about the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant, apprenticeship incentives, National Insurance savings and fully funded apprenticeship training opportunities available through the Youth Guarantee and wider government skills reforms.
To learn more or register for a webinar, visit the EKC Group Youth Guarantee page.
As implementation of the Youth Guarantee progresses, Kent & Medway partners will continue to work with employers, education providers, local authorities and employment support organisations to ensure young people can develop the skills needed for future careers while helping businesses access the talent they need to grow.
Through the Kent & Medway LSIP, employers are encouraged to continue sharing their workforce challenges and skills needs, helping to shape local solutions that support both business growth and employment opportunities for residents.
The Kent & Medway LSIP is funded by UK Government and delivered by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce as the designated Employer Representative Body for Kent and Medway.
