The chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which operates Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Madame Tussauds, and the London Eye, has called on the UK government to address what she describes as a rising youth unemployment crisis. Fiona Eastwood highlighted the growing challenge of providing young people with clear pathways into employment, asserting that the nation currently spends more on supporting unemployed youth than on helping them secure jobs.

Eastwood emphasized that many young workers, particularly those aged 16 to 24 employed by Merlin’s attractions, view their summer roles as critical first steps in their careers. With around 3,000 staff in this age group across the company, she stressed the importance of the hospitality and leisure sectors as key entry points into the workforce due to their reliance on seasonal hiring.

The Merlin chief executive also outlined the difficulties employers face amid increases to National Insurance Contributions and the national minimum wage. The government’s policy to raise the minimum wage to the same level for all adults over 18 has, according to some businesses, diminished financial incentives for younger, less experienced workers. This, Eastwood argued, further complicates young people's ability to gain employment.

While acknowledging the government’s £2.5 billion Youth Guarantee initiative—a program aimed at improving access to work opportunities for young people—Eastwood urged that hospitality and leisure, significant providers of first jobs, receive focused support as part of the effort to reduce youth unemployment.

She noted that, despite advancements in artificial intelligence reshaping many industries, skills such as judgment, communication, and emotional intelligence will continue to be vital in the workforce. Eastwood's comments underline a broader concern within the business community about the future of youth employment and the need for targeted policies to facilitate smoother transitions from education to work for young people in the UK.