What Cheshire can learn from early action on youth unemployment

A Merseyside borough’s work to reduce the risk of young people becoming not in education, employment or training has raised a wider question for Cheshire: how early should local areas intervene when pupils begin to drift away from education or work?

The BBC reported on work in Sefton, where personalised early support has been used to help young people before they reach 16. The approach focuses on one-to-one guidance, trusted relationships with careers advisers and practical help with next steps such as college visits and vocational routes.

Although the example is outside Cheshire, the issue is relevant across the North West. Employers, colleges, councils and training providers are all facing the same challenge: how to help young people move from school into work, training or further education before they become disconnected.

The concern is not just social. It is also economic. When young people are out of education, employment or training, local employers lose future workers, families face more pressure, and public services can end up dealing with problems later and at greater cost.

A government-commissioned review has warned that Britain risks creating a “lost generation” if the rise in young people not in education, employment or training is not addressed. The review pointed to pressures including weaker entry-level opportunities, fewer young people gaining early work experience and a fall in apprenticeship starts for young people.

For Cheshire, the lesson is practical: waiting until a young person has already left education or lost confidence may be too late. Earlier support can help pupils understand their options, visit colleges, consider apprenticeships, and build the confidence to take the next step.

This matters for local businesses as well. Many employers say they need reliable young workers with communication skills, confidence and basic workplace readiness. But those skills are often built gradually, through careers advice, work experience, part-time jobs, placements and contact with real workplaces.

Schools and colleges cannot solve the issue alone. Businesses can play a role by offering workplace visits, talks, short placements, interview practice and clearer routes into apprenticeships or entry-level jobs.

Local councils and education providers also have a role in identifying young people who may be at risk earlier, rather than waiting until they have already fallen out of the system. Personal support can be more effective than generic careers information, especially for pupils who lack confidence or family networks in certain industries.

The North West economy needs more skilled workers in sectors such as care, construction, logistics, manufacturing, education, digital and professional services. Helping young people move into those pathways is not just a welfare issue; it is part of the region’s long-term economic planning.

For parents, the message is also simple. If a young person is unsure about college, apprenticeships or work, early conversations and practical visits can make a difference. Seeing a course, meeting an adviser or understanding a real job can make the next step feel less intimidating.

The Sefton example does not provide a ready-made answer for every area. But it does show that early, personal and practical support may be more useful than waiting for young people to become another statistic.

For Cheshire, where employers need future talent and families are under pressure from rising costs, youth skills and early careers support should remain part of the local economic conversation.

Open article on Cheshire Today