A pioneering programme that supports young people in Peterborough to find work is continuing to grow.
The Peterborough Youth Employment Hub, which is based at Peterborough United FC, is seeing increased demand for the services it offers to help young adults progress into employment, training and support.
Youth Employment Hub manager, Dean Watson, said: “We’re seeing more young people walk through the door who just need the right support and environment to get started.”
The scheme provides practical interview preparation, CV workshops, career coaching and wraparound support to help young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) progress into employment.
Since launching in November 2025, 397 young people have accessed the Hub, with 255 of those attending since April 1 alone.
“The growth since April shows there’s a real need for this locally,” Mark said.
In the first six months, 195 young people accessed support, with 49 moving into structured one‑to‑one support. During this period, 14 gained employment, 21 progressed into training, and 16 accessed mental health and wellbeing support.
“It’s not always about a job straight away,” Mark said, “it’s about building confidence and helping them take that first step.”
Since April, a further 35 young people have registered and are now receiving ongoing support. Over the same period, 13 young people have moved into employment, 11 into training, and four into mental health support, building on outcomes from the first phase of delivery.
The Hub works closely with partners including Jobcentre Plus, CPSL Mind and training providers, making it easier for young people to access joined‑up support in one place.
“We’re seeing more Peterborough employers coming forward to offer support and opportunities,” Mark said, “which is a really positive step.”
The scheme is one of many across the region that are funded via Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, a hyper-local initiative pioneered by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) that aims to support NEET young people into employment.
The success seen in Peterborough and elsewhere has led to a £5 million funding extension for Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, something CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow is thrilled to see:
“Our first year of Youth Guarantee Trailblazer funding has proven exactly what can happen when we back our local young people,” Mayor Bristow said, adding. “This additional £5 million is an investment to keep that momentum going.”
This additional funding comes at a critical time for the region, with recent figures showing around 15,400 16-to-24-year-olds across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are Not in Education, Employment, or Training at present.
“By scaling up our youth hubs and expanding apprenticeship pathways, we are protecting our economic future and ensuring Cambridgeshire and Peterborough businesses have the highly skilled, competitive workforce they need to thrive,” Mayor Bristow said.
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