Marks & Spencer has committed to train and support a further almost 2,000 hard-to-reach young people through its Marks & Start programme over the next three years, as part of a multi-year strategy with The King’s Trust.

This year M&S is celebrating 20 years of Marks & Start, a programme that helps those who face barriers to employment gain their first step on the career ladder. The scheme has supported over 30,000 people into employment, including 12,000 young people facing barriers to work, through M&S’ partnership with The King’s Trust.

Today, over half a million young people in the UK are unemployed but eager to work. However, new insight from M&S reveals that two-thirds of young people still face barriers to employment. Mental health is one of the biggest barriers, with one in three saying it’s a challenge.

Last year, M&S established its biggest-ever charity partnership with YoungMinds, which after its first year raised over £2.6 million to support young people, with a target to raise £5 million within three years. With 30% of young people signalling that employment and a sense of stability have a positive impact on their mental health, M&S is going one step further to break down employment barriers and get more young people – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – into a career in retail.

Commenting is Marks and Spencer CEO Stuart Machin.

“As one of the UK’s biggest retail employers, it’s our responsibility to help young people into work – especially those furthest from employment who might need extra support. But we can’t do it alone; that’s why we partner with The King’s Trust and Young Minds, brilliant organisations that really understand the help young people need.

“The success of Marks and Start over 20 years shows the difference that partnership can make – together with The King’s Trust, we’ve helped 12,000 young people into work and in doing so, changed thousands of lives. Too many young people in the UK face barriers to getting a job, but if we work together, we can change that.”

M&S is keen to take a leadership role on this important agenda and will be working with MPs from all parties, Metro Mayors and the new Government to explore ways to make it easier for businesses to create employability schemes and help more young people into work.

Also commenting is Laura Bunt, chief executive at YoungMinds. “M&S’ research echoes what we know about young people struggling with their mental health and the barriers they face when it comes to work. Young people are experiencing multiple pressures, including poverty, inequality, intense academic pressure and the online world, and the lack of early mental health support means they’re becoming more unwell.

“Through our partnership with M&S, we will continue breaking down barriers to show young people they’re not alone with their mental health, providing vital guidance and advice, and reaching more young people.”