Marks & Spencer Executive Appointed to Address Youth Unemployment Crisis

Mark Bolland, who led Marks & Sc

ion from 2010 to 2016 and later oversaw supermarket chain Morrisons, has been named the government’s chief adviser on tackling youth unemployment.

In a bid to curb the growing number of “Not in Education, Employment or Training” (NEET) young people, Bolland will chair a summit of business leaders and act as the lead non‑executive director at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The appointment follows an interim report by former health secretary Alan Milburn highlighting that the NEET cohort—currently about one million, rising to 1.25 million by the 2030s—poses a serious threat to the nation’s economic prospects.

The government noted that Bolland’s involvement with the DWP through his charity, Movement to Work, has already helped more than 200,000 unemployed youngsters secure employment. His mandate includes collaborating with charities that support disabled young people to expand access to training and job opportunities.

“Bolland’s appointment signals the government’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment,” said Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden. “By partnering with business leaders, we will create clear pathways into work and address this long‑standing challenge.”

In Bolland’s own words, “I am honoured and passionate about working with the government. I know that working hand in hand with business to support young people gives them the best possible chance of success.”

The report also revealed that the UK’s NEET rate is significantly higher than that of many developed countries—12.5 % in Britain versus 5 % in the Netherlands—and that the economic cost of the crisis is estimated at £125 billion. It underscored that one in four young people receiving health or disability benefits remains unemployed or out of education a decade later, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions.

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