Today at the Labour Party Conference, Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP announced that all young people who have been out of work for 18 months will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement, as part of a new Youth Guarantee scheme. The Chancellor said the policy aimed to provide “real work” with “practical experience and new skills,” and pledged that the Government would not allow “a generation of young people to languish without prospects.” Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the NFDA, commented: “NFDA welcomes the Government’s plan to tackle youth unemployment and help bridge the growing skills gap. The automotive sector offers a wide range of entry-level opportunities and apprenticeships across several areas. “Through our Drive My Career initiative, we have consistently promoted the career paths available to young people in the automotive retail industry. This new Government scheme has the potential not only to support young people into meaningful employment, but also to help the sector attract the next generation of skilled workers. “It is also encouraging to hear the Chancellor directly recognise the role of the automotive industry in rebuilding the economy, including the mention of financial support for Jaguar Land Rover. It is essential that JLR receives meaningful support so the dealer network affected by the knock-on effects of the cyber-attack can recover. “At the Labour Party Conference, NFDA will also lobby for reform of the Apprenticeship Levy to allow greater flexibility, enabling employers to better invest in training.”