The UK government says 85,000 extra jobs for young people will be available under the Backing Young Britain scheme.

The UK Prime Minister has announced at a job summit in Birmingham yesterday (2 September) that an extra 85,000 jobs and training opportunities will be made available to help young people into work.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that more than 150 employers had signed up to the scheme which will provide apprenticeships, work or training for young people. Those companies included Royal Mail, Microsoft, Pfizer, Phones4U, Centrica and Morrisons.

The initiative, Backing Young Britain, was launched in July and developed with the aim of getting businesses, trade unions and charities to “stop a generation of young people lost to work, as in previous recessions.”

When the idea was launched 47,000 new jobs were promised, which were to be funded by the £1 billion Future Jobs Fund. The extra 85,000 jobs will be good news for many.

The Prime Minister said: “I am delighted that 150 employers recognise the value of backing young Britain and have joined the campaign. Together we can create thousands of opportunities for young people and ensure that the next generation gets its foot on the career ladder.

“This Government will do everything we can to help people who are suffering because of the global economic downturn. We know that people of all ages are being hit by the recession, but it is young people who can be most at risk and that’s where backing young Britain can really make a difference.”

Liberal Democrat frontbencher, Steve Webb, slammed the plans when talking to the BBC. He said it was “characteristically timid and lacking in ambition.”

TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, was much more positive: “This is fantastic news for the many young people who are in desperate need of work.

“In previous recessions many young people have been left on the scrapheap. This announcement shows the Government is committed to not letting this happen again.”

However, today the TUC is urging the government to do more to help those looking for work. They have called for a rise in the amount of jobseeker’s allowance to at least £75 a week – up from the current rate of £64.30. The union said that the UK has one of the lowest out-of-work benefit rates compared to wages in the developed world.

Mr Barber commented: “Losing your job is always a massive blow. But successive governments have failed to increase unemployment benefits in line with earnings. The result is that people losing their jobs today face a bigger loss in their income than in previous recessions.”