{
  "id": 13354091,
  "title": "Create new pre-apprenticeship scheme to close youth unemployment gap, says Milburn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/create-new-pre-apprenticeship-scheme-to-close-youth-unemployment-gap",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-10T05:00:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/oct/10/pre-apprenticeship-scheme-landmark-alan-milburn-youth-jobs-crisis-report"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn is recommending a new national pre-apprenticeship scheme in England to address the youth unemployment crisis, according to a review he is leading. The report, delayed until after the October budget, warns that the number of apprenticeship starts for 16- to 18-year-olds has dropped drastically in the past decade, with only one in five such starts going to this age group. Additionally, the number of under-19s enrolling in apprenticeships has nearly halved over the same period. Milburn's proposal, set to be part of his final report, calls for a new \"national pre-apprenticeship route\" aimed at providing young people with further education, training, and work experience. This initiative would particularly target those lacking the necessary qualifications, confidence, workplace experience, or routines to secure and maintain an apprenticeship. The program, proposed to be delivered through further education colleges, would combine English and maths education with technical learning and hands-on experience with an employer. Milburn argues that many young people need further preparation to transition from school to apprenticeship, and that employers also require assurance that apprentices are ready for the job and committed to it.",
  "summary": "Exclusive: Former minister’s review warns that dramatic action is needed over huge drop in youth apprenticeship starts A national apprenticeship readiness scheme should be introduced in England to close the gap for young people between leaving school and starting work, the government is to be told. Alan Milburn, who is leading a major review into Britain’s youth jobs crisis , will call for a new…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}