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UK launches Opening Shift with 11,000 NEET placements pledged

9/8/2026

14 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Retailers Offer Youth Placements

The UK Department for Work and Pensions and the British Retail Consortium launched Opening Shift for NEET youth.
Over 40 retailers pledged more than 11,000 unpaid two-to-four-week placements for 18- to 24-year-olds.
Tesco and Aldi together pledged 6,000 placements.
Participants keep Universal Credit and receive a guaranteed interview after placement.
The £2.5 bn Youth Guarantee aims to create 100,000 NEET jobs by the next election.

Summary

John Lewis Hiring

John Lewis Partnership will add more than 10,400 seasonal positions across its stores, Waitrose branches, and logistics.
The group has invested over £1 bn in Waitrose and £800 m in John Lewis for shops and technology.
Waitrose won the Grocer 33 Customer Service Award for the sixth year in a row.
Outgoing Managing Director Peter Ruis warned that raising business rates before the Budget would cause a terrible high-street impact.

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Retailers Offer Youth Placements

The UK Department for Work and Pensions and the British Retail Consortium launched Opening Shift for NEET youth.
Over 40 retailers pledged more than 11,000 unpaid two-to-four-week placements for 18- to 24-year-olds.
Tesco and Aldi together pledged 6,000 placements.
Participants keep Universal Credit and receive a guaranteed interview after placement.
The £2.5 bn Youth Guarantee aims to create 100,000 NEET jobs by the next election.

1 / 2