Marks & Spencer (M&S) is launching a nationwide training initiative named 'Not Just Any Career,' aimed at providing 1,000 traineeships for young individuals aged 18 to 24. This program, which opens for applications on July 27, will span 18 months and focus on enhancing skills such as management and confidence. Participants will undergo six months of retail management training, coupled with practical experience in M&S stores. Thinus Keeve, M&S's retail director, expressed the importance of retail as a career that allows for rapid growth and leadership opportunities. This initiative is a response to a review by former minister Alan Milburn, which warned that without intervention, a significant number of young people could become NEET (not in education, employment, or training). Milburn highlighted that many young individuals have not been given a fair chance at employment. M&S's chief executive, Stuart Machin, shared his belief in the potential of young people, recalling how a Saturday job changed his life. He urged for increased efforts to provide opportunities for youth.