John Lewis Partnership Expands Commitment to Support Care-Experienced Youth in Employment

The partnership extends its Building Happier Futures programme, launched in October 2022, to place young people who grew up in the care system into meaningful work.

Since its inception, the initiative has offered jobs to more than 450 care‑experienced young people, supported by 1,700 welcome visits and 1,200 job‑shadowing placements.

With this new pledge, the partnership will provide at least 250 roles annually—a figure that more than doubles its previous yearly average.

Many of the positions will be permanent. For seasonal or fixed‑term roles, participants will still benefit from a tailored employability programme designed to enhance skills and support career progression.

The programme operates across all John Lewis and Waitrose shops, offices, warehouses, and five hotels, delivered by Partners with Care Aware training that equips staff to understand and support care‑experienced individuals.

This announcement comes amid official figures showing that over one million young people in the UK are not in employment, education, or training (NEET), the highest number in more than a decade. A government review highlighted care‑experienced young people as one of the four highest‑risk groups.

The partnership will also pilot the government’s new Jobs Guarantee scheme, initially offering 20 roles in Waitrose branches. The scheme provides 18‑24‑year‑olds who have claimed Universal Credit for 18 months with six months of paid work at 25 hours a week, with the government covering all employment costs.

Additionally, the partnership is urging the government to allow employers to draw on Growth and Skills Levy funding for short pre‑employment courses aimed at marginalised groups, focusing on CV writing, interview skills, and IT training.

It also calls for ministers to reconsider the removal of funded apprenticeships that support progression into management.

Jason Tarry, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “As an employee‑owned business, we’re able to make decisions that benefit society over shareholders, and Building Happier Futures is a shining example. Four years in, it’s needed more than ever, so we’re doubling down on our commitment.”

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