Abstract
This chapter explores the United Kingdom’s (UK) response to the Youth Guarantee (YG) in the two largest of its four constituent countries – England and Scotland. The chapter examines the forms, systems and funding which underpin the YG and the conditions currently affecting young people socially, economically and geographically in England and Scotland in the context of widespread cuts in social expenditure. It focuses specifically on the UK’s decision not to adopt the YG, the impact of this decision and the alternatives – Youth Contract (until 2016), succeeded by Youth Obligation, which forms part of broader welfare system changes under Universal Credit. The chapter also examines how EU policies and funding influence public and regulatory agencies within the UK when intervening in adult education and employment markets.
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Notes
- 1.
There are also various colonies (now referred to officially as “dependent territories”), all (except Gibraltar) outside Europe; and three crown dependencies (the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey).
- 2.
Broadly similar arrangements apply for Wales and Northern Ireland (in the case of Northern Ireland, devolved government has been suspended de facto since early 2017, although administration is still conducted by the civil service in Northern Ireland).
- 3.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are NUTS1 regions in themselves.
- 4.
Priti Patel, Minister of State for Employment, Memorandum dated 8 June 2015, quoted in report of the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, 21 July 2015, at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmeuleg/342-i/34222.htm. Patel was, and remains, a leading Eurosceptic and advocate of “Brexit”.
- 5.
Speech by Angela Constance, Scottish Minister for Youth Employment, 19 March 2014, reported at: https://news.gov.scot/news/110-million-youth-funding.
- 6.
Tony Wilson, Director of the Institute for Employment Studies, presentation at the Talent Match/University of Nottingham conference: Tackling youth unemployment – The need to employ a new approach? November 2018.
- 7.
The Youth Contract programme ended on 31 March 2016; see below.
- 8.
For full details, see: https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN06387.
- 9.
Department for Work and Pensions (2015) Youth Contract Official Statistics: April 2012 to November 2014. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417182/youth-contract-statistics-to-nov-2014.pdf.
- 10.
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support.
- 11.
The introduction of Universal Credit was phased, affecting different areas of the country at different times.
- 12.
See http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/employability-pipeline/the-employability-pipeline/ (accessed 13 Oct. 2019).
- 13.
See https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/building-better-opportunities (accessed 13 Oct. 2019).
- 14.
Areas deemed “more developed” (GDP per capita over 90% of the EU average) are all of London, South East England, and the East of England, plus Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, South Western Scotland, Eastern Scotland, North Eastern Scotland and East Wales Areas deemed to be in “transition” (between 75% and 90%) encompass Cumbria, Devon, East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, Highlands and Islands, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Northern Ireland, Shropshire and Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Tees Valley and Durham. The less developed areas (under 75%) include Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, West Wales and the Valleys.
- 15.
Scotland also receives 44% of the total UK European Maritime and Fisheries Fund allocation (the agriculture sector receives £500 million in European funding on an annual basis under the Common Agricultural Policy). This is for projects that make the fisheries and aquaculture sectors more sustainable, conservation of the marine environment, and support growth and jobs in coastal communities. Some of the projects funded include education and training elements.
- 16.
Sixth-form refers to the final 1–3 years of secondary education, when students (typically between 16 and 18 years of age) prepare for A-level (or equivalent) examinations.
- 17.
The Guardian, 18 September, 2018.
- 18.
UK data refer to exits within 3 months as routine monitoring does not include a 4-month observation point; the figure is likely to be understated because the destination was unknown for 64.2% of leavers.
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Clancy, S., Holford, J., Boeren, E. (2020). The Response of the United Kingdom (England and Scotland) to Youth Guarantee. In: Milana, M., Klatt, G., Vatrella, S. (eds) Europe's Lifelong Learning Markets, Governance and Policy. Palgrave Studies in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38069-4_17
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