Thames Water has come under fire for hosting a 'Refugee Insight Day' aimed at providing career opportunities exclusively for refugees, just days after a report highlighted a growing youth unemployment crisis in the UK. Reform UK's shadow Home Secretary, Zia Yusuf, condemned the initiative, stating that while British youth struggle to find work, opportunities are being diverted to refugees. The report by former Cabinet minister Alan Milburn indicated that nearly one in five young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), marking a significant concern for the government. Thames Water, however, defended the event, asserting their commitment to improving job prospects for young people, with plans for 85% of their 2026 apprenticeship recruits to be under 24. They also noted their outreach programs aimed at underrepresented communities, including NEETs and care leavers. The controversy comes amid alarming statistics showing that employers have hired 27 young workers from outside the EU for every British youth employed, leading to fears that traditional entry-level roles for young Britons are being filled by migrants.