The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is delighted to announce that Laura Jane (LJ) Rawlings MBE DL, CEO of Youth Employment UK, has been appointed Chair of the Youth Guarantee Programme Board.

Laura-Jane is a leading advocate for youth employment, ensuring young people have opportunities and a voice in key issues. With over 15 years of leadership experience, she founded Youth Employment UK in 2012 to put young people at the heart of policy and services.

An internationally recognised expert, she co-founded and co-chairs the Youth Employment Group, serves as Secretariat to the APPG for Youth Employment, and held a board role at the Youth Futures Foundation and now services on The Bedford College Group and North Northamptonshire BIG50. She has also co-authored key reports on social mobility, post-16 education, and youth employment.

The Youth Guarantee Programme Board, set to hold its first meeting next Thursday, will play a critical role in driving forward this ambitious Trailblazer. The Board will advise on the strategic direction of the Trailblazer and will determine priorities and recommendations. The Youth Guarantee aims to tackle the economic inactivity of young people aged 18-21, by providing access to education, training and employment support. The Trailblazer is an opportunity to shape the local and national policy for the Youth Guarantee, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education.

Speaking about the appointment, Assistant Director for Skills and Employment, Andrea Wood MBE said: “We are thrilled to welcome LJ Rawlings as Chair of the Youth Guarantee Programme Board. Her expertise and passion for youth employment will be invaluable as we work across the skills and employment system to develop policy and interventions that will ensure that every young person in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has the support they need to succeed.”

LJ Rawlings, Chair of the Youth Guarantee Programme Board, said: “I am honoured to be appointed Chair of the Youth Guarantee Programme Board at such a crucial time for young people. The challenges they face in accessing good jobs, training, and education are real and growing, and we need to ensure that local and national policies are aligned to meeting the needs of young people and employers.

The Youth Guarantee is an incredible opportunity to bring local leaders together, listen to young people, and create meaningful change. I look forward to working with the Authority and with partners to shape a system that truly works for every young person, no matter their background or barriers.”

The CPCA will work closely with key partners, including employers, training providers, and community organisations, to maximise the impact of the Youth Guarantee. The programme will also feature a Youth Skills and Employment Forum, bringing together young people to co-design and evaluate support systems. Young people aged 16-21 who are interested in joining the forum can find out more here >> Youth Forum

Get Britain Working Trailblazers: Youth Guarantee

The Youth Guarantee forms part of the Government’s “Get Britain Working” strategy, which is set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper. It aims to help eligible young people in England by coordinating existing services, funding, and entitlements and offering tailored support to those who may need it due to additional challenges or barriers they may face.

The Guarantee will also provide local leadership, partnership work and shared accountability within the system. The policy’s primary goal is to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training by providing comprehensive support and opportunities.

The Youth Guarantee overlaps with Connect to Work, the second key policy agenda from the Get Britain Working White Paper. The Authority will work to maximise the overlap and ensure both programs are connected.

The Trailblazers are testing a new localised approach and providing young people early access to the Guarantee in Trailblazer areas. Importantly, they will provide evidence to inform the policy’s ongoing development at a national level. Mayoral Strategic Authorities delivering the Trailblazers are critical partners, and the central government will work closely with the Authority to provide ongoing support.

This will run for one year between April 25 and March 26, and the Government will use the lessons learned from these Trailblazers to inform the future development of the Youth Guarantee.

A crucial element of the Trailblazer is the Youth Employment Forum, which will bring together 12 young people who have faced barriers to learning and work. Their insights will help evaluate current employment support and shape a system that better meets young people’s needs.

The Youth Guarantee Programme Board, chaired by LJ Rawlings, will provide strategic leadership to ensure the programme delivers long-term, meaningful impact for young people across the region.

Youth Unemployment in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

● As at October 24, the unemployment rate for the 16-24 age group, across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, was 11.1% vs 10.9% Nationally

● Nationally, one in eight young people aged 16-24 are NEET, highlighting the urgency of targeted support.

● Research shows that being NEET can have long-term impacts on a young person’s future employment prospects, earnings, and mental health.

● The Youth Guaranteeaims to reduce the number of young people aged 18-21 NEET by providing early intervention, personalised support, and stronger pathways into work and training.