Plans published on 19 October 2026 by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the Department for Work and Pensions set out routes for young people into skilled work. For professional and business services, firms committed to recruiting 22,400 new apprentices aged under 25 each year over five years, plus a 20% rise in work experience opportunities. Construction plans include 40,000 placements annually, part of a previously announced ambition of 100,000 job opportunities a year.

A defence plan, due later that week alongside one for digital and technologies, was to include raising the number of people supported through defence apprenticeship programmes to at least 14,000 annually by 2035. Following a September agreement, defence firms were also to expand work experience and pathways for young people not in education, employment or training by 25%.

The plans were reported ahead of the final Milburn review into young people and employment. They sit alongside a £2.5 billion youth employment package intended to deliver almost one million opportunities, and build on earlier Jobs Plans for financial services, clean energy and life sciences.