One Million Young People Locked Out of Opportunity: Why the Milburn Review Matters

Alan Milburn’s Young People and Work interim review should be a wake-up call for all of us.

The government-commissioned report examines the growing number of young people aged 16–24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and the barriers preventing them from accessing opportunities.

The findings are stark. Nearly one million young people are now NEET, while more than six in ten of those have never had a job. The review highlights growing inequalities, rising health-related inactivity and increasing numbers of young people becoming disconnected from work and education.

Importantly, the report challenges the idea that this is a crisis of ambition. Instead, it points to a complex mix of factors including educational disadvantage, health challenges, disability, geography and a lack of effective support during key transition points in young people’s lives.

Why This Matters to the Andy Taylor Foundation

At the Andy Taylor Foundation, these findings reflect what we see every day.

We meet talented, creative and ambitious young people who want to build careers and contribute to society. What many lack is not motivation, but access to opportunity, industry networks, practical experience and the confidence that comes from being given a genuine chance.

That is why our work exists.

Through bursaries, mentoring, industry access and work experience opportunities, we help young people develop the skills, confidence and connections needed to build sustainable careers in the creative industries.

Creating Opportunities

This Autumn, we will launch a new training and work experience programme designed to help young people gain practical skills, industry experience and valuable workplace exposure.

Because if we are serious about tackling youth disengagement, we cannot simply talk about opportunity, we have to create it.

If you are a business, employer, mentor, partner or funder who wants to help create opportunities for the next generation in digital media roles, we would love to hear from you.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions: Young People and Work: Interim Report (Alan Milburn, May 2026)