The Youth Guarantee offers independent retailers funded support to recruit, train and retain young people aged 16–24. With financial incentives and recruitment support available, it’s a practical way to build your future workforce.

The Youth Guarantee is a government-backed initiative designed to help every 16–24-year-old access work, training or education. With £2.5 billion of investment over the next three years, it aims to create hundreds of thousands of opportunities while supporting employers to develop a skilled, job-ready workforce.

For independent retailers, the scheme offers practical support to make recruitment easier and more affordable. From funded apprenticeships and financial incentives to tailored recruitment services, it provides a straightforward way to bring in new staff while reducing upfront costs.

As skills gaps and staffing pressures continue across the retail sector, the Youth Guarantee presents an opportunity to invest in future talent. Retailers can gain access to local candidates, shape training to suit their needs and build a more sustainable workforce for the long term to help alleviate some of the mounting pressures of rising costs.

What is the Youth Guarantee?

The Youth Guarantee is a UK government initiative to ensure all 16–24-year-olds can access work, training or education. Backed by £2.5 billion over three years, it aims to support nearly one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities.

For independent retailers, this means access to a new pool of young talent, alongside financial and practical support to help you recruit and train staff.

Financial Support & Incentives for Hiring

Retailers can benefit from several funding options when taking on young people:

• Fully funded apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds (for non-levy paying employers)
• £2,000 incentive (from October 2026) for hiring young apprentices aged 16–24
• Additional £1,000–£2,000 payments for certain apprentices (e.g. under 19s or those with additional needs)
• £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for hiring 18–24-year-olds on Universal Credit (from June 2026)
• Jobs Guarantee scheme: six-month roles (up to 25 hours/week) fully funded by government for eligible candidates
• National Insurance savings: no employer NICs for most under-21s and apprentices under 25 (within salary thresholds)

Recruitment & Training Support

The scheme is designed to make hiring easier and lower-risk:

• Access to pre-screened candidates through Jobcentres
• Help with job descriptions, advertising and recruitment
• Free use of Jobcentre facilities for interviews and events
• Opportunities to offer work experience placements
• Access to Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) – short, tailored training linked to your vacancies

This support can help independent retailers quickly fill roles and develop staff with the right skills.

Building Your Future Workforce

Beyond immediate hiring, the Youth Guarantee helps retailers invest in long-term growth:

• Create a pipeline of trained young staff
• Engage with local Youth Hubs to connect with talent in your area
• Benefit from sector-specific training initiatives (including retail-relevant skills)
• Shape training to suit your business needs

Get involved

To learn more and find out how to tap into this support, visit the link below.