Full Breakdown
Peterborough Youth Employment Hub Tackles Record Youth Unemployment
6/5/2026, 1:00:56 PM
Opening of the Youth Employment Hub
In October, the Peterborough United Foundation launched a Youth Employment Hub inside the stadium of Peterborough United, a League One football club. The centre offers skills training, career advice and job-matching for 16- to 24-year-olds.
Youth Unemployment Context
National youth unemployment is at its highest level in over 12 years. In Peterborough, official data from January show 1,500 young people classified as not in education, training or employment (NEET).
Partners and Mentors
The hub is a partnership among the Peterborough United Foundation, EFL in the Community, Jobcentre Plus and local community groups. Youth employability mentor Alicia Green and hub manager Dean Watson oversee daily support.
Impact Figures
Since opening, 394 young people have accessed the hub, with 250 contacting it since April. The hub works with ten local employers and has placed 28 participants in full-time work. Funding comes from the £45 million Youth Guarantee scheme.
Official Statements
Dean Watson said the hub blends job-matching with mental-health, training, benefit and housing advice to remove barriers beyond applications. Alicia Green noted the hub’s focus on CV writing, confidence building and identifying transferable skills. Former minister Alan Milburn has criticised the “work-shy” label applied to young people, arguing it ignores structural obstacles.
Criticism of the “Work-Shy” Narrative
Milburn’s view aligns with hub staff who argue that labeling the generation as unwilling to work overlooks rising living costs and prolonged residence with parents, reinforcing the need for targeted support.
Experiences from Participants
Jess McGhee, 18, described feeling “stuck” before the hub helped her see broader opportunities and secure a job. Silvio, a recent level-two gym-instructor graduate, said he felt “lost and stuck” until the hub guided his search. William, 19, found employment after 104 applications, crediting his job for improved housing, income and confidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The hub reports 28 full-time placements, while the local NEET count remains 1,500, highlighting a gap between the hub’s reach and the broader unemployment challenge. The conversion of 394 contacts to 28 placements also suggests room for improvement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am so, so excited to start my new job, genuinely - I'm incredibly excited,” — Jess McGhee, participant
- “We're helping them with things like CV writing, confidence building, identifying their transferable skills and interview preparation.” — Alicia Green, youth employability mentor
- “But actually, sometimes it's just not that easy; sometimes they want the job, but need the mental health support, or they need the training, or the benefit advice, or the housing advice,” — Dean Watson, hub manager
- “I've got my own flat, I've got my own source of income, I'm happier, I feel much healthier.” — William, former NEET
What’s Next
A similar youth employment hub is planned for a Merseyside borough, indicating potential replication of the Peterborough model.
