West London has taken a major step forward in tackling the UK’s growing youth unemployment challenge with the launch of a new Youth Employment Roadmap, bringing together employers, educators, local authorities and the voluntary sector in a coordinated call to action.
Unveiled on Wednesday 8 July at Perceval House in Ealing, the launch event convened leaders and young people from across the sub-region, with a shared ambition to move the debate from understanding the causes of youth unemployment to delivering real, practical solutions.
The launch comes amid growing national concern, following the publication of Alan Milburn’s interim report on Young People and Work and confirmation that the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has now exceeded one million.
A bold, solutions-focused call to action
The West London Youth Employment Roadmap, developed by Youth Careers Collective, West London Business, West London Alliance and the West London Careers Hub, sets out a clear and practical framework for change.
Positioned as a “big call to action”, the Roadmap outlines immediate and long-term actions for key sectors – including employers, education providers, local authorities and the voluntary sector – to work together to reduce youth unemployment and improve outcomes for young people.
The Roadmap is designed as a forward-looking think piece, complemented by a practical summary document distributed at the launch, and will feed directly into the next phase of Alan Milburn’s national review.
A cross-sector movement led by West London
The event demonstrated strong cross-sector collaboration, with attendees from businesses, public sector organisations, charities and education providers, alongside young people themselves.
Proceedings were opened by Matt Lent, Chief Executive at Youth Careers Collective, who set the tone for the day:
“With the recent publication of Alan Milburn’s interim report on ‘Young People and Work’, alongside the news that the number of young people who are NEET has now topped 1 million, it is now clear that we are amid a youth unemployment crisis.
West London partners are determined to drive real long-term change for young people. Now is the time for bold action, and the West London Youth Employment Roadmap is a significant step on this journey.
The Roadmap focuses on tangible solutions and clear actions to help educators, employers, councils and charities tackle this crisis, together reducing youth unemployment and consequently boosting the local economy across the sub-region.
It is only through this cross-sector, community-driven, coordinated approach that we can drive the change that West London’s young people need and deserve.”
