Youth Guarantee supporting young people into work and training

Young people and businesses are signing up for a new service in the West of England, offering free tailored support to help young people into work, education and training across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire.

The first young people, aged 18-21, in the region are now already being supported through the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer – part of a new national pilot that aims to help provide the skills and confidence to move into work, through one-to-one advice and access to a range of practical support.

Thanks to nearly £5 million in funding secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, led by Mayor Helen Godwin, our region is one of only eight Trailblazer regions in England picked to pioneer a new approach, testing how local leadership, partnership working, and enhanced support services can improve outcomes for young people. The Trailblazer programme will help shape the future national rollout of the Youth Guarantee, with learning here informing policy development across the country. Yesterday, in the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed plans to extend funding for the scheme to support more young people into work and training.

The Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is ensuring that every young person who takes part in the scheme will receive a WESTpass granting them free bus travel until March 2026, removing a barrier for some of the most vulnerable people and making it possible for everyone to attend interviews, training and other opportunities. Over a year, this amounts to a saving of around £1,000.

A specialist team from the MCA will also work closely with businesses across the region to build stronger links between young people and employers, including creating employment and work experience opportunities. This collaboration will ensure that businesses have the support they need to take on young talent, as well as helping to fill staffing gaps.

There are a range of ways for employers to get involved with the programme, including offering vacancies and placements to support young people into the workplace; joining with peer employers through roundtables and events to share insights and challenges in engaging young talent, and hosting insight days and careers talks.

The year-long initiative will focus on three key cohorts to connect young people to opportunities:
• Rural areas of North East Somerset where people can face transport barriers - facilitating transport solutions including e-bike loans and interview opportunities;
• Areas of significant deprivation and high levels of youth unemployment in south Bristol – providing tailored one-to-one coaching and work experience taster sessions;
• In South Gloucestershire, focusing particularly on wards with high numbers of Universal Credit claimants - helping young people with special educational needs.

Businesses can find out more about how to sign up to the Trailblazer here. Young people can get in touch with the team or sign up here. The West of England Youth Guarantee is a key initiative from Skills Connect, the one-stop shop for training, skills and careers information in the region.

Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:

“Every young person in our region deserves the chance to succeed and a pathway to work – no matter their background or what challenges they’ve faced. The Youth Guarantee is about giving young people meaningful, practical support to build a positive future. That means helping them develop confidence, gain skills, and, crucially, get access to real opportunities that can change their lives.

“I’m delighted that every young person taking part in the Youth Guarantee will be given a free bus pass, with travel covered until March 2026 to remove one of the biggest barriers young people face: the cost of getting to interviews, training or work. Free travel will make a real difference, helping young people to access new opportunities and feel more connected. It’s another example of how we’re working across our region to ensure that every young person has the chance to thrive, wherever they live.

“This is a bold and ambitious programme. By supporting young people now, working with businesses, we’re investing in a stronger future workforce and a fairer regional economy.”

Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development at Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council, said:

“We are delighted about this investment into improving the ability to travel for young people aged 18-21 in B&NES. Working with colleagues at the Combined Authority, I am pleased that we can focus support around travel in our rural areas where young people face barriers. The scheme will enable them to access a variety of options towards overcoming travel issues, allowing them to go further afield for employment and training opportunities. We are actively promoting this scheme and you can find more information on our Invest in B&NES website or by emailing Youth_Trailblazer@bathnes.gov.uk”

Councillor Tony Dyer, the Leader of Bristol City Council, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for young people across Bristol to get the support they need to take their next steps into work, education, or training. The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is about more than just finding a job – it’s about building confidence, skills, and a clear sense of direction.

“Being one of only eight chosen to pilot this national programme is a real vote of confidence in our region’s commitment to our young people. With nearly £5 million in funding secured, this partnership-led approach has the power to transform lives – and shape future national policy in the process.”

Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, the Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said:

“This is a fantastic initiative to provide practical support to young people in the West of England - especially those facing barriers to employment, education, or training. We want to help young people achieve their full potential and create a region where everyone has the chance to succeed.”