This is welcome – and arguably overdue – news, as persistently high numbers of NEETS (not in education, employment or training) among those aged 16-24 continues to have a negative impact on our economic productivity, as well as social mobility within our communities.

According to the government’s latest figures, it’s a problem affecting as many as one in eight young people – approaching one million and rising – and a quarter of those say a major barrier to work or training is long-term sickness or disability, underlined by an increase in the number claiming health and disability benefits.

Those trends are reflected here in the Liverpool City Region, where skills gaps leading to youth unemployment continue to hamper our combined efforts to create an environment of inclusive economic growth with new opportunities and jobs.

Clearly, businesses have a role to play in improving this picture by investing more in training and employment, however they need to know that the right candidates are available before making those big decisions. This is where closer relationships with training providers can be crucial and we have excellent examples of colleges and employers working together in the city region.

As the review gets underway, led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, I hope it will take into consideration the volume of information and feedback that continues to be gathered about the Liverpool City Region through the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), for which Liverpool Chamber is the chief convenor alongside our neighbouring Chambers.

Through the LSIP, we are working closely with employers in the Liverpool City Region to understand their workforce needs and translate those into recommendations which inform the long-term decisions of further education providers and policymakers at a regional and national level.

If we can tie those strands together more firmly and find even more common ground on skills, then fewer young people will leave school without the skills they need to prosper and their career chances will be vastly enhanced, while those who need support to overcome sickness or disability should also feel incentivised to receive it.

In turn, we are able to build a stronger economy founded on a skills base that is ready for projects and developments which will lead the future growth of our city region. We must all hope, therefore, that this latest review finally gets to the root cause of NEETS and begins to turn the tide in their favour.

Our young people are relying on us today and we are relying on them tomorrow. That’s why we’re continuing to work closely with colleges, training providers, and employers across the Liverpool City Region to develop practical, collaborative solutions that help young people access the skills, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.