More than 40 major UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Asda and Greggs, have joined a government-backed scheme called Opening Shift to offer up to 100,000 short-term work placements to young people classified as Neet (not in employment, education or training) over the next three years. The two-to-four-week placements, targeting those aged 18–24, will include a guaranteed job interview on completion, and participants will continue receiving universal credit (the UK's main welfare benefit) during the scheme. The initiative comes amid warnings that the UK's one million Neet young people could grow to 1.25 million within five years without urgent intervention, with advocates highlighting that six in ten have never held a job.