A major new employment hub is set to open later this year inside Peterborough United Football Stadium, designed to support young people struggling to find work or training opportunities. The initiative forms part of the government’s £45m Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme and aims to provide targeted support for 16–24-year-olds by bringing vital services together in one accessible location.

The hub will act as a one-stop centre offering careers advice, skills training, mental health support, and job matching. Its mission is to tackle the growing number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET). According to Department for Education (DfE) figures, 3.9% of 16–17-year-olds in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were classed as NEET in 2025—above the national average of 3.4% and the highest local figure since 2016.

Run in partnership with Peterborough United Foundation, EFL in the Community, Jobcentre Plus, and other local organisations, the hub will play a key role in connecting young people to meaningful opportunities. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was one of only eight regions chosen to pilot the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme, reflecting the pressing need for stronger youth employment support in the area.

Local leaders have welcomed the project. Paul Bristow, the mayor of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, said the hub will give young people “a real chance to get on in life,” describing it as a safe and welcoming space where they can access the guidance and resources needed to move into work, training, or further study.

Lucy Nethsingha, Liberal Democrat councillor and chair of the combined authority’s skills committee, said the initiative will “strengthen what we can do to help young people build their futures and access meaningful work which meets aspirations.” Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes also praised the scheme, noting that “too many young people have been left behind” and highlighting his campaign to secure pilot funding for the region.

The project is being supported by community and football leaders alike. Gill Wignall, chief executive of Peterborough United Foundation, said empowering young people into work would also strengthen the local economy. Debbie Cook, director of community at the English Football League (EFL), stressed that football clubs are uniquely positioned to deliver impactful programmes in education, mentoring, and wellbeing thanks to their deep roots in local communities.

The new hub follows Peterborough City Council’s receipt of a share of £88m in August from a separate government initiative to support youth services and create “youth zones” across the city. Together, these projects signal a major investment in tackling youth unemployment and ensuring young people in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire have the skills and confidence to thrive.