From advanced engineering to sustainable production, the UK manufacturing sector is a vital source of high-quality employment. It supports millions of jobs across the country, offering clear progression routes from apprenticeships and entry-level roles through to highly skilled, well-paid careers in design, operations, and leadership.

For young people looking for a dynamic career with long-term prospects, manufacturing offers the chance to earn, learn and grow while playing a direct role in shaping the UK’s economic success. The sector is pivotal to supporting the near 1 million young people not in education, employment, or training. 

There are jobs available. In manufacturing alone there are 50,000 vacancies – good jobs making great products. With the right skills and training these jobs can change lives. The opportunities made available through the Youth Guarantee can be a pathway to those jobs.

That’s why the Secretary of State recently met with Make UK and employers in the sector at Leyland Trucks to discuss the role of the sector in this mission. Following a discussion on overcoming the barriers they face to offering employment and training, attendees shared how the sector is already supporting young talent into manufacturing roles and highlighted the sector’s readiness to work with the Government and go further with efforts to create more opportunities for young people.

The Youth Guarantee Offer 

The Youth Guarantee is the Government’s commitment to these young people and will offer support to employers to create the employment and training opportunities these young people need. Through a £2.5 billion additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy over the next three years, the Government will be offering:

  • A £3,000 incentive payment for employers who hire an eligible young person on Universal Credit for over 6 months, which will be available from summer 2026.
  • A Jobs Guarantee for every 18-24-year-old who has been on Universal Credit looking for work over 18 months, enabling them to benefit from a fully funded six month guaranteed paid employment opportunity.
  • Funding for 300,000 work and training opportunities for young people, providing employers the chance to work with the DWP to shape training and work experience programmes to meet skills needs, as well as an opportunity for employers to get to know young people before hiring. 
  • A £2,000 apprenticeship hiring grant will be available for non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) in England starting employees aged 16-24 on apprenticeships from October 2026. This is on top of the Government’s previous commitment to fully fund apprenticeships for 16-24-year-olds for non-levy payers from August 2026, making it easier for smaller businesses to take on young talent.
  • The introduction of the first apprenticeship units, which will help employers to upskill their workforces and address skills gaps more easily. 
  • And funding for a pilot where local Mayors will be able to connect young people, especially those who are NEET, with thousands of apprenticeship opportunities at local employers. 
  • AI Leadership – AI strategy and opportunity
  • AI Leadership- AI adoption, procurement and governance
  • AI Leadership- AI delivery and organisational transformation
  • Electric vehicle charging point installation and maintenance
  • Electrical fitting and assembly
  • Mechanical fitting and assembly
  • Permanent modular building assembly
  • Solar PV installation and maintenance
  • Welding
  • Battery Manufacturing 

Employers are integral to the success of the Youth Guarantee and providing young people with opportunities to build skills, gain experience and progress into employment or further learning. For employers, the Youth Guarantee offers access to fully funded training, financial incentives, and a pipeline of young talent. 

The Secretary of State and his ministerial team are looking to build on existing partnerships by working with a broader range of employers from different sectors, sizes, and locations on the Youth Guarantee. That is why the DWP and Make UK are working together to encourage manufacturers to back the Guarantee, whether it is through creating work experience opportunities, apprenticeships, Sector-Based Work Academy programmes, support with the Jobs Guarantee, partnering with the DWP to set up a Youth Hub, or hiring a young person. 

By working together, government and manufacturing employers have a real opportunity to transform young lives whilst strengthening the future of UK manufacturing industry. The Youth Guarantee is not just an investment in skills and jobs, but in young people’s confidence, ambition and in long-term growth. With the manufacturing sector’s support, we can ensure more young people move into sustained, rewarding employment — helping manufacturing businesses to thrive, communities to prosper and the UK’s manufacturing base to remain world leading for generations to come.