Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a boost to his campaign to tackle youth unemployment in South Shropshire.
A £10.7 million investment has been announced to tackle the employment disability gap for almost 3,000 people in Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Telford and Wrekin.
The area is one of just fifteen to receive new funding to expand employment support. The announcement follows a visit that Stuart hosted to Bridgnorth Jobcentre by an Employment Minister on 19th August 2025.
Stuart had invited the Minister to discuss ways in which to boost job prospects, with a focus on tackling barriers to work. In a letter to Stuart, the Department for Work and Pensions stated:
"We have now agreed the delivery plan with Shropshire Council – giving your area up to £10.7 million to help around 2650 disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to work over the 5 year duration of the programme."
The £338 million 'Connect to Work' programme will provide access to specialist employment support advisers over five years. Around 300,000 people in England and Wales are set to benefit from the investment.
Locally, 2,650 people will benefit from the programme, designed to tackle barriers to work for local people - including coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support to ensure sustainable employment outcomes.
Stuart has welcomed the investment as part of his pledge to boost access to high-quality training and education opportunities as well as personalised careers advice in South Shropshire.
Stuart has said that the intervention is especially important for South Shropshire, where youth unemployment has increased since the General Election.
In August 2025, there were 1,170 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in South Shropshire, which was 2.2% of the population aged 16-64.
This includes 210 claimants aged 16-64, which is also up by 30 claimants since the General Election. Across the nation, youth unemployment has increased by an extra 40,000 young people since last year.
This means that one in eight young people are now without an opportunity to earn or learn. As part of his plan to unleash rural prosperity, Stuart wants to instead make South Shropshire the best place to live in, work, and visit.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"As part of my plan to unlock rural prosperity, I launched my campaign to tackle youth unemployment in October 2024. Having recently visited Bridgnorth Jobcentre, I am pleased to now welcome this £10 million employment support delivery plan. It will tackle the disability employment gap by addressing barriers to work for almost 3,000 residents. Extra access to specialist support and advice will be an important intervention for South Shropshire, where youth unemployment has sadly increased since the General Election."
