Sean Houlston has backed the Conservatives’ Save the Summer Job campaign, calling for unnecessary barriers to employing young people to be removed and for businesses to be given greater confidence to offer first jobs.
The campaign proposes simplifying restrictions around evening and Sunday work for 16 and 17-year-olds, giving young workers greater flexibility over shifts and breaks, and removing unnecessary permit requirements that can make taking on younger staff more complicated for employers.
The campaign comes against a difficult backdrop for young people entering the workplace. According to the Office for National Statistics, 1,012,228 young people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training during January to March 2026. That is around 91,000 more than in April to June 2024, when the figure stood at 921,198.
Businesses are also facing growing employment costs. The British Retail Consortium has estimated that businesses have faced an additional £6.5 billion in employment costs over the past two years, while arguing that government policy should make it easier rather than harder to create entry-level jobs.
Commenting on the campaign, Sean Houlston said:
“My first job was in a local pub in Warmingham, serving food and pouring pints. It taught me about responsibility, dealing with customers, working as part of a team and the value of earning your own money.
“Those first jobs are really important as they give young people confidence, skills and independence, while giving businesses the extra people they need at busy times of the year.
“When more than a million young people are already outside education, employment or training, putting additional obstacles in the way of their first job makes no sense. If a young person wants to work and a responsible employer wants to give them that chance, government should be helping rather than making it harder.”
Hospitality remains one of the most important sectors for young people entering employment. UKHospitality Chair Kate Nicholls has said that around 60 per cent of first jobs are in hospitality, describing reforms to remove unnecessary barriers to employing young people as a way of helping them learn new skills and gain confidence.
The wider economic picture is also putting pressure on businesses and households. ONS figures show that inflation reached 2.9 per cent in the 12 months to July 2026, while the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts the overall tax burden reaching a historic high of 38.5 per cent of GDP.
The Conservatives argue that reducing the cost and complexity of employing people must form part of a broader effort to encourage businesses to invest and create jobs.
The Save the Summer Job proposals include:
Simplifying evening and Sunday working restrictions for younger workers.
Giving young people greater flexibility over when breaks are taken and the days they work.
Relaxing the permitted window for evening work to 9pm.
Removing unnecessary permit requirements for businesses employing young people.
- Reducing wider employment red tape and supporting hospitality and tourism businesses.
Sean added that the issue was about much more than summer employment.
“A Saturday job or a few shifts during the summer might look like a small thing, but for many people it is their first step into working life.
“We have more than a million young people currently outside education, employment or training, businesses facing billions of pounds in additional employment costs and a tax burden heading towards record levels. We need to change direction.
“Businesses create jobs. Government’s job should be to create the conditions in which they have the confidence to employ people, invest and grow. Giving more young people the opportunity to get that crucial first experience of work should be part of that.”
The Save the Summer Job campaign forms part of wider Conservative proposals to reduce employment red tape, lower the cost of doing business and support hospitality, tourism and high street businesses.
Sign the petition here:
