Young people across the East Midlands will benefit from early careers support, increased access to work experience and stronger links that will aim to create at least 1,000 work experience opportunities over the next three years.
Backed by a £2.2 million investment from the region’s Mayor, the investment will mean earlier careers support from Year 9, and more opportunities to gain meaningful and stronger links with employers across the East Midlands. It will help young people build the confidence, skills and experience they need to make informed choices about their futures and progress into education, training or employment, helping to prevent more young people from becoming NEET – not in education, employment or training.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Every young person in the East Midlands deserves the chance to build a bright future, whatever their background or circumstances. This £2.2m investment will connect them to the employers, sectors, and wider opportunities that exist for them in our region: demystifying a world of work that can feel closed off when you are young.
“This Youth Ambition programme will help young people gain the confidence, skills and experience they need to move into education, training or work. This is a vital quality of our future economy: clear routes into good jobs, with services that ensure no young person is left behind.
“We know the talent and ambition of our young people is one of our region’s greatest strengths. With this investment from Government, we can give more young people the support they need to achieve their goals and play a full part in the future success of the East Midlands.”
The investment – backed by members of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s (EMCCA’s) skills and employment committee – is being allocated to Youth Ambition in recognition that early intervention is key to improving outcomes for young people.
Every secondary school in the region will benefit from the programme and additional targeted help will be available for young people facing the greatest barriers, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), mental health challenges, learners educated outside mainstream settings and those identified as being at risk of becoming NEET.
Young people will have more chances to meet employers, explore different careers and understand the vocational technical and academic routes available to them through careers fairs, workshops and sector specific activities. Parents and carers will also receive support to help guide young people’s choices.
A new regional Work Experience Portal will make it easier for young people to find meaningful work experience opportunities by connecting schools, employers and learning providers through the portal.
Careers Leads in schools will also receive dedicated professional development to strengthen careers education and create a lasting legacy beyond the funding period.
The investment will support the development of EMCCA’s Opportunity Escalator, making sure people of all ages can access the skills, training and support they need to move into good jobs and build on the work already under way across the East Midlands to improve skills and employment opportunities.
EMCCA currently invests about £90m a year into skills and employment support programmes, including adult skills provision and the Connect to Work programme. This latest funding recognises that young people often need additional, tailored support to overcome barriers and access opportunities.
This work also builds on the East Midlands’ role as one of the Government’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer areas, helping test new ways of supporting young people into education, employment and training and ensuring those most at risk of falling behind are connected to opportunities in their local communities.
Funding comes from the Government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF), announced in November last year as part of a wider package of funding for Mayoral Strategic Authorities. Local areas have been given flexibility to use the funding to meet regional priorities and drive inclusive growth, with Mayor Claire allocating £107m to a range of funds across the East Midlands.
Published on: 7 July 2026
Categories: News, Skills and Employment