After an interim report that dominated headlines and reshaped the debate on young people and work, Alan Milburn is set to release his final report. The interim report highlighted the systemic failures that have led to one million young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and the very real risk we now face of a “lost generation”.
I grew up in Mitcham, Southwest London in the Borough of Merton. As a Mitcham boy through and through, I’m proud of where I grew up, but it’s impossible to ignore the disparities between the side of Merton I grew up in and the affluent parts of Wimbledon in the West. This is perhaps best demonstrated by the difference in household income. In the east of the borough the number of children growing up in income deprived households is 41 percent, that falls to 18 percent in the west.
The social contract has been broken
Like a number of young people my age, I did an early morning paper round before school to earn some much-needed pocket money. I was always taught that if you got on and worked hard, you would be rewarded for your efforts. If you got your head down at school, achieved good results, and had a good work ethic, you’d have all the opportunities you needed to succeed. But that’s not the case for young people today. The social contract has been broken. From the death of the Saturday job to AI replacing entry level jobs for graduates – the promise that getting on and working hard will lead to opportunities has collapsed.
Since becoming leader of Merton in 2022, I’ve made it my mission to make Merton one of the best places to grow up, regardless of which half of the borough you’re from. I strongly believe that bringing down inequality, equalising opportunity and ensuring that all our children and young people have the best start in life, is the key to repairing that broken contract that is leaving too many of our young people out of work.
Working together
And it is local authorities that need to lead the way.
The preliminary findings of the Milburn report show us that there is no one lever we can pull to fix the NEETs crisis. It starts in our schools, our healthcare system, our local economy and our welfare system. The NEETs crisis has national and local causes and will only be solved when national and local government work together.
The obstacles facing a young person in the east of Merton aren’t the same as the obstacles facing a young person in the west. That same rule will apply all over the country, and is exactly why local authorities, who understand the different needs of the different communities they serve better than anyone else, need to be in the driving seat when it comes to tackling this crisis.
In Merton we haven’t been wasting any time. Our pioneering employment and recruitment service, Employ Merton, has conducted initial pilots of the Youth Employability Hub. We’ve brought together mental health specialists, employers, DWP job coaches and community organisations to ensure that 18-30 year olds on universal credit are getting the wrap-around support they need.
We’ve also delivered Youth Jobs Fairs offering employment support, guaranteed interviews, health and wellbeing services, and a welcoming space where young people can get a meal and advice.
And it isn’t just Merton doing this work, Hammersmith and Fulham’s Pathway Bonds, connecting secondary and college students with STEM jobs and Islington’s Jobs Placement Programme, show that local authorities and partners on the ground are doing the work needed to tackle the issue head on.
And it is local authorities who can deliver more change, we have the partners, we know the schools, the institutions, our local employers and most importantly our young people. Local authorities are London’s anchor institutions.
Building resiliance
Boroughs can do much more, and we will, but we must be seen as delivery partners in any post-Milburn announcements.
Over the next four years in Merton, we will put tackling the NEETs crisis at the heart of everything we do.
We are launching Merton: Next Generation – a structured work experience programme at the council for young people in our schools, prioritising those who are at risk of becoming NEET.
An initial 100 apprenticeships are being made available for those living in Merton, ensuring that young residents can gain experience across a range of council services, while accessing vital early careers support. It isn’t just the council though – we have convened partners, borough institutions and contractors to do the same and join the mission.
Building resilience will be a defining priority for Merton, helping residents develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive. That’s why we are committed to raising attainment in English and maths, reducing school absences among children from low-income families, and cutting waiting times for children and young people to access mental health support.
Merton is taking a whole council approach to combatting the crisis. Us and other local authorities are ready to help the government tackle this crisis head on.
As we await the final publication of the Milburn Review my message to the government is clear: trust local government and give us the tools and resources to get on with the job. There is too much at stake and too many young people face being left behind.
We are already proving what is possible in Merton and we won’t stop until every one of our young people has the support, confidence and opportunity they need to succeed.