Marks & Start: how M&S has committed to helping 2,000 young people into work

The retailer has committed to supporting 2,000 more people through the scheme, with this year marking its 20^th anniversary. So far, it has enabled 30,000 people to take the first steps in their careers.

Of those, 12,000 were people who “faced barriers” to employment, such as mental health issues.

As it embarked on the latest phase of its programme in partnership with The King’s Trust, Marks & Spencer research found that mental health was cited by one in three young people as a challenge.

Marks & Spencer intends to work with MPs from all parties, metro mayors and the new government “to explore ways to make it easier for businesses to create employability schemes and help more young people into work.”

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said: “As a young boy of 16 years old, I started my career in retail, working part-time on weekends and in the evening doing trolleys, working on the checkout serving customers and replenishing shelves. Work gave me purpose as well as pocket money.

“As one of the UK’s biggest retail employers, it’s our responsibility to help young people into work – especially those furthest from employment who might need extra support…

“The success of Marks & Start over 20 years shows the difference the partnership can make. Too many young people in the UK face barriers to getting a job, but if we work together, we can change that.”

The King’s Trust chief executive Jonathan Townsend said: “We rely on partners like M&S who invest in young people and create accessible routes to employment, helping us achieve our mission of building the confidence and skills of young people who need us most.”