Young People in Print & Packaging (YPIPP) has urged the industry to be more proactive in supporting young people into work, following the publication of the government’s report into youth unemployment.
The landmark report found that almost one million people aged 16 to 24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) at the end of 2025, highlighting the growing barriers linked to wealth, income, and regional inequality, with local job markets, transport, services, and support systems all affecting young people’s ability to enter employment. A second report is due to be published in the autumn, containing recommendations for overcoming “the most significant issue the country faces”.
YPIPP, the print industry initiative nonprofit, says the findings should act as a wake-up call for a print and packaging sector already facing an ageing workforce, growing skills gaps, and increasing demand for technical, sustainable, and manufacturing-led roles.
Jo Stephenson, YPIPP board member, said, “This report is not print and packaging-specific, but we ignore it at our peril. It makes clear that traditional routes into employment are breaking down, leaving a large pool of potential talent disconnected from industries that need them. That talent is out there, but too many young people have no clear, accessible route into print and packaging.
“Our events are full of young people who want to work but have no idea about the diversity of careers in this wonderful sector. That’s down to us, not them. As an industry, we need to make ourselves more visible, more accessible, and more supportive for the next generation.
“That means thinking beyond advertising more entry-level roles, and exploring more practical and structured ways to help young people engage with the sector. School and college partnerships, site visits, taster sessions, supported placements, pre-apprenticeship programmes, trial shifts, community outreach, mentoring – all of it helps to break down barriers while we await the government’s response.”
YPIPP is a nonprofit initiative formed by figures from across the print and packaging sector. It helps provide pathways for young people to get into print and packaging careers through community outreach, workshops, seminars, and collaboration with businesses, educators, and training providers.
Stephenson added, “Print and packaging companies can’t solve this crisis on their own, but they can play a major role in its solution and use their expertise to become a model for other industries to follow. That means working together, strengthening links with education, supporting apprenticeships, and giving young people a clearer view of the unlimited possibilities presented by this industry. If we want to secure the future of print and packaging, we need to open the door to young talent today.”
To learn more about Young People in Print & Packaging and its work to connect young people with industry opportunities, visit www.ypip.co.uk.
