Last week I had the great pleasure of visiting the Freshers Fairs at both Farnborough College of Technology and Farnborough Sixth Form College.
These fairs are always full of energy, but this year the sense of optimism was especially striking. Meeting young people at the very start of their next academic journey is a reminder of just how much potential we have here in Aldershot and Farnborough. Their enthusiasm about their courses, their plans for the future, and the friendships they are beginning to build was infectious. It was great fun to spend time with them and to hear directly about their hopes and ambitions.
The conversations I had were overwhelmingly positive. Students spoke about where their studies might lead – into higher education, training, or directly into work. What struck me was their clear understanding that opportunity matters, and that the right support can open doors that might otherwise remain closed. This is exactly why the Labour Government is determined to make sure no young person is left behind.
We are expanding apprenticeships, ensuring that more young people can earn while they learn, gain real experience, and set themselves on a solid career path. Apprenticeships are about more than qualifications – they give confidence, practical skills, and a route into good jobs that support local families and strengthen our economy.
Alongside this, the Government has launched the Youth Guarantee trailblazers. These will match young people to job or training opportunities and provide the foundations for the national roll-out of the scheme. The guarantee will mean that every 18 to 21 year old in England can access help to find work. That is how we break down barriers to opportunity and make sure that talent and determination, not background or circumstance, shape a young person’s future.
This sits alongside Labour’s plan to create 120,000 new training opportunities across the country. For towns like ours, with strong ties to both industry and education, this is a real chance to make sure that the next generation has the skills that employers are looking for – from advanced manufacturing to healthcare, from digital skills to green technologies.
The Government is also introducing votes at 16. At the Freshers Fairs I saw first-hand how engaged young people already are with the big issues of the day. They want their voices heard on climate change, on the future of our economy, and on our role in the world. Giving them a say in our democracy recognises that reality and strengthens it.
And with plans for a new EU youth experience scheme, young people will have the chance to study, train or volunteer abroad – building friendships and broadening horizons. That is about giving our young people not just opportunities at home, but the chance to understand and shape the world beyond our borders.
What I saw in Farnborough was simple: optimism, talent, and ambition. With Labour in government, those qualities will be backed with the opportunities they deserve.
