Government appoints ex-Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland to tackle record youth unemployment

The UK government has appointed former Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland to coordinate business efforts to place more young people in jobs and training. Bolland will bring together business leaders to expand opportunities and will advise Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on the government's response to a review by former minister Alan Milburn.

The review found that one in six young people is projected to be out of work, education or training within five years unless action is taken.

Milburn was asked by ministers to examine why so many 16- to 24-year-olds fall into the NEET category. His report stated that six in 10 NEETs had never held a job, even though 84 percent of those surveyed said they wanted employment or training. Official figures released alongside the review showed more than one million young people currently outside education, employment or training, the highest total in more than 12 years.

Following publication of the report, the government announced that some of the UK's largest companies will support 300,000 work-experience and training placements over the next three years. Bolland founded the charity Movement to Work in 2012 after the riots of the previous year. The organisation has since placed more than 200,000 disadvantaged young people into employment.

Bolland also served as chief executive of Morrisons and as chief operating officer at Heineken before taking the role at Marks & Spencer. He said he believes the government is serious about addressing youth unemployment and that collaboration with business offers the best route to success for young people.