Burnham Unveils National Baccalaureate Plan to Combat Youth Unemployment
Greater Manchester's youth employment model eyed for nationwide rollout, linking travel incentives to work placements.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
Andy Burnham has announced plans for a national version of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) aimed at tackling persistent youth unemployment across the UK.
The initiative directly replicates the success seen in Greater Manchester, where the #BeeWell survey collects crucial data on young people's wellbeing, hopes, and expectations.
This data-driven approach forms the core strategy for understanding specific youth needs, a critical step in designing effective support systems.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden actively explores proposals granting mayors similar powers to those currently held in Greater Manchester.
Such devolution of authority aligns with Andy Burnham's belief that local areas deliver better results when free to design community-specific support.
A significant component of the proposed national offer involves a potential change to the free bus pass rule; a new age threshold for passes currently undergoes consideration.
This adjustment directly links to efforts reducing the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) crisis, a persistent challenge for young people.
The proposed policy could offer cheaper bus travel in exchange for work placements, directly incentivising youth employment.
This proposal emerges just one week after a £2 bus fare cap was announced, setting a clear precedent for accessible public transport.
Andy Burnham argues that transport often becomes an invisible barrier, preventing young people from seizing vital work opportunities.
The Makerfield MP could offer young people cheaper bus travel in return for taking a work placement.
Burnham believes changing procurement rules, ensuring public money delivers apprenticeships and work placements, could form the basis of a national offer.
He claims this strategy means every single state contract can require work placements for 16 to 18-year-olds or apprenticeships.
Burnham championed this strategy ahead of becoming Prime Minister, raising the idea of matching it to a guarantee of a work-related opportunity at 16.
This guarantee would include a 45-day work placement.
He also advocated for using full social value weighting in public procurement to achieve these goals.
Burnham argues the education system requires massive change, believing it currently serves some young people rather than all young people.
Andy Burnham indicated that The education system requires massive change, believing it currently serves some young people rather than all young people.
His vision includes giving 16 to 18-year-olds free travel linked to work opportunities.
Furthermore, he advocates for devolving employment support, utilising data to better understand young people’s wellbeing.
Mr Burnham is expected to make a formal announcement on Tuesday, detailing the specifics of this ambitious national plan.