Burnham’s call for work shadowing
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged City bosses and senior professionals to open their doors to young people seeking work experience. Speaking on the Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future podcast, Burnham said that those in leadership roles should consider letting a young person shadow them at work.
This initiative, Burnham explained, is intended for young people who lack family networks that can help them gain a foothold in the workplace. He emphasized the importance of exposing youth to real-world working environments to build confidence and break the cycle of exclusion.
Burnham’s experience with shadowing
He described how this helped the individual engage with the work process rather than remaining sidelined, opening envelopes or performing menial tasks in the corner.
Burnham also outlined plans to reform how government contracts are awarded, shifting the focus to include more social value. He said this shift would help align economic growth with broader societal goals.
Concerns over long-term economic impact
Burnham’s push for reform comes as the number of young people not in education, employment, or training continues to rise. The figure, at over 1 million, has alarmed economists and policy experts.
Former health secretary Alan Milburn warned in a government-commissioned report that the number could rise to 1.25 million within five years, costing the UK economy up to £125 billion annually. Burnham acknowledged this concern and introduced a major overhaul of Britain’s education system. The reforms emphasize vocational training and allow secondary schools to tailor courses for local industries, aiming to better prepare young people for the workforce.