A fresh boost in funding is set to help more young people access training and job opportunities.
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes has welcomed a further £45 million investment from the Government to extend the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme, with up to £5 million earmarked for the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA).
The Youth Guarantee, introduced by the Labour Government earlier this year, aims to ensure every 18 to 21-year-old has the chance to earn or learn.
Mr Pakes said: "Helping to improve training and apprenticeships for young people in Peterborough is one of my priorities.
"Too many young people have been left behind, and this targeted support will help ensure local young people get the guidance, training, and opportunities they deserve.
"I campaigned hard to ensure that Peterborough and Cambridgeshire were one of the first pilots for this project in the country, and for this funding to be extended again.
"With so many young people in Peterborough not currently able to access education, employment, or training, I will be doing all I can to make sure the Combined Authority gives Peterborough its fair share."
Peterborough was named one of the eight original trailblazer areas when Education Secretary Liz Kendall visited Peterborough College.
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Mr Pakes had advocated for the city’s inclusion in the pilot, highlighting the need for support in areas with high numbers of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
In Peterborough, 5.4 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds are classified as NEET, compared to 3.4 per cent in Cambridgeshire.
The additional funding will focus on creating new pathways into training and employment for young people in Peterborough.
This investment builds on recent support through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF), and forms part of a wider effort to address disadvantage and help every young person reach their potential.
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