Cumbria Tourism has welcomed the proposed introduction of a new youth mobility scheme between the UK and the EU, a move the organisation has been championing for a number of years.
The new agreement, which forms part of the government’s proposed EU reset deal, is expected to give 18 to 30 year olds (and potentially under 35s) the opportunity to live, work, study or travel more freely between the UK and EU countries for a limited period of time.
As the county’s official Destination Management Organisation and one of VisitEngland’s accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), Cumbria Tourism has consistently called for the introduction of such a scheme to tackle the ongoing staffing shortages facing the tourism and hospitality sector.
Although the details of the youth mobility scheme are yet to be finalised, the proposed agreement has been hailed as a significant step forward for the visitor economy, with the potential to open new doors for both young people and employers.
The news comes as Cumbria Tourism hosted its annual HR Summit on Tuesday 20 May at the Daffodil Hotel, bringing together visitor economy leaders, employers and skills experts to share best practice and futureproof the county’s workforce.
The event featured insight from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), local colleges and universities, and a series of expert workshops covering topics including skills development, inclusive recruitment, worker transport and refugee employment support.
Cumbria Tourism’s Head of Partnerships & Projects, Rachel Tyson, says: “After many years of lobbying, we are delighted to hear of a potential youth mobility scheme being brought forward as part of the UK’s broader reset with the EU. Especially off the back of the tightened immigration policy set out in the Government White Paper last week. The ability to attract young, motivated individuals from Europe back into our workforce would be a game-changer for Cumbria’s visitor economy, and particularly for hard-to-fill roles that require flexibility, seasonality or language skills.
“This week’s HR Summit could not have been more timely. With the support of our partners, it gave us a vital opportunity to share learning from our Welcome to Work in the Visitor Economy project and to help employers develop practical, people-centred approaches to recruitment and retention. It’s clear that businesses are committed to investing in their teams, and access to a wider labour pool through a youth mobility scheme would be a step in the right direction.”
Cumbria Tourism will be following the negotiations closely, evaluating how the final deal could support staffing, skills and long-term workforce growth. As soon as the details are confirmed, we will circulate relevant information to help businesses make the most of the opportunities it presents.