BEVERLEY – Graham Stuart MP is stepping up his campaign to protect first job opportunities for young people in Beverley and Holderness, warning that too many are being locked out of the workplace before they’ve even had a proper start.
He says the traditional entry-level roles — shop floor shifts, warehouse posts, apprenticeships and trainee positions — are becoming harder to secure. Local employers, he argues, want to give young people a chance but are being squeezed by rising employment costs and increased financial pressure on businesses.
The consequence, he says, is a damaging cycle: young people are told they need experience to get a job, yet struggle to gain that experience because firms are reluctant to take the initial risk.
Graham has launched a First Jobs survey and petition to gather real stories from young people, parents and businesses across the constituency. He says the evidence will strengthen his hand in pressing ministers to ensure national policy does not unintentionally shut the door on school leavers, apprentices and graduates.
He argues that Beverley and Holderness has always been a place where hard work is rewarded — and that protecting clear pathways into employment is essential for the area’s long-term prosperity.
“Everyone deserves the chance to prove themselves,” he has said. “We cannot allow a generation to miss out on that first step.”
Young people and local employers are now being urged to make their voices heard.