A new youth employability programme has been launched to help 16-24-year-olds land their first job.

The ‘Hatch’ programme, launched between KFC and UK Youth, will help young people who have faced barriers to employment build their work skills and confidence.

Three KFC restaurants in East Lancashire – Blackburn, Haslingden Road; Burnley, Colne Road; and Burnley, Trafalgar Street – are all taking part in the scheme.

Working with UK Youth to identify young people most in need, the ‘Hatch’ programme will offer participants 1-2-1 training, support, and practical work experience, with an interview at KFC on graduation.

READ MORE: Preston KFC team members take part in Great British Spring Clean

The rollout of the programme in Greater Manchester comes as new research from KFC and UK Youth reveals the stark impact the cost-of-living crisis has had on young people’s employment outlook.

This follows the release of Office for National Statistics figures which show 770,000 young people are currently not in education, employment, or training across the UK – higher than pre-pandemic levels.

To help reduce the barriers young people face across the UK, KFC and UK Youth are calling on the government to work more closely with businesses to ensure young people are being equipped with the skills that will help them thrive in the workplace.

By 2030, KFC aims for a third of all new hires into the company to be young people aged between 16-24 who have faced barriers into employment – whether that is because of social, economic, domestic, or mental health challenges, coming through the Hatch programme.

Meg Farren, general manager of KFC UK & Ireland, said: “Young people today are facing greater challenges than ever before. The pandemic took away crucial skills and career development opportunities – now, they’re faced with a cost-of-living crisis and an uncertain economy, making it that much harder to land their first job.

READ MORE: Hygiene ratings for every KFC in Blackburn

“As on of the biggest youth employers in the country, we see first-hand how difficult it is for young people to build the skills and experience they need to enter the world of work in today’s economic climate.

“Working with UK Youth, Hatch will help young people to build their skills, confidence, and land their first job.”

Jacob Diggle, director of strategy, research, and impact at UK Youth, said: “Youth work can play a huge part in tacking the rise in youth unemployment. However, these life-changing services are under strain and need more support.

“The partnership between youth work and businesses is vital to meeting the scale of need. We are proud that our hatch programme with KFC will help thousands of disadvantaged young people develop the confidence and skills they need to secure more stable employment.”