IoD calls for a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU

The Institute of Directors is calling on the government to negotiate a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU.

Such a scheme, which would allow 18-30 year olds to work and travel freely between each jurisdiction for up to 2 years, has the potential to unlock opportunities in the reset of relations between the UK and EU and to alleviate mobility and skills challenges for UK businesses.

IoD member survey data from May 2024 shows that half of business leaders think that a UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme would benefit their organisation, compared to just 2% who think it would be a disadvantage.

Potential reciprocal elements of an agreement that members most agree with are mobility for research, internships, study and travel (89%), student exchange (86%), and the mobility of citizens for work/traineeships/volunteering (84%).

35% of business leaders believe that an improved trade deal with the EU would make a major difference to business confidence in 2025.

Emma Rowland, Trade Policy Advisor for the Institute of Directors, said:

“The UK’s trading relationship with the EU remains one of the biggest barriers to business growth, and so progress on resetting relations must be accelerated. The EU has put youth mobility with the UK on the negotiating table, and whilst the UK government has so far been reluctant to cross its red line on freedom of movement, there is strong support amongst IoD members for a balanced reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme.

“The UK joining the Youth Mobility Scheme would be particularly beneficial for sectors like hospitality and retail, which typically employ large numbers of young people and have struggled to find workers following the loss of movement of potential recruits between the EU.

“Business leaders support closer cross-border collaboration with the EU in general, for instance through valuable schemes such as the Erasmus programme, as a way of gaining cultural and language experience. Greater transfer of ideas through research and exchange of workers could help support innovation and productivity, and build deeper ties with our international partners.”

Full results

May 2024 survey

418 responses from across the UK, conducted between 14-29 May 2024. 14% ran large businesses (250+ people), 19% medium (50-249), 26% small (10-49 people), 30% micro (2-9 people) and 10% sole trader and self-employed business entities (0-1 people).

If the UK and EU were to pursue negotiations in the future, how far would you agree or disagree with the following potential reciprocal elements of a Youth Mobility Scheme?

Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
A reduction in visa costs
47.6%
28.7%
15.3%
3.3%
3.3%
1.7%
Access to healthcare without surcharge
37.1%
22.5%
17.5%
11.2%
10.0%
1.7%
'Home' university tuition fees without international surcharge
35.2%
23.7%
19.1%
12.4%
6.7%
2.9%
Mobility for additional purposes (e.g. research, internships, study, travel)
60.8%
27.8%
5.3%
2.9%
2.2%
1.2%
Mobility of citizens for work/ traineeships/ volunteering
60.3%
23.7%
6.5%
4.1%
4.1%
1.4%
Student exchange (e.g. Erasmus)
61.2%
25.1%
8.6%
1.0%
1.4%
2.6%

To what extent do you feel a Youth Mobility Scheme would benefit or disadvantage your organisation?

Significant benefit
26.1%
Slightly benefit
22.7%
Neither benefit nor disadvantage
44.0%
Slightly disadvantage
0.7%
Strongly disadvantage
1.7%
Don't know
4.8%

January 2025 survey

687 responses from across the UK, conducted between 13-30 January 2025. 15% ran large businesses (250+ people), 19% medium (50-249), 22% small (10-49 people), 31% micro (2-9 people) and 13% sole trader and self-employed business entities (0-1 people).

At the start of 2025, business confidence in UK economic prospects stands at historically depressed levels. Which of the following would do most to boost business confidence in 2025? Please choose up to three. (687 respondents)

Reduction of the tax burden on business
58.2%
A significant scaling-back of the government's employment law reforms
41.5%
An improved trade deal with the EU
35.0%
Cuts in interest rates
27.9%
Reduction in the complexity of the tax system
24.3%
Better articulation of overall growth strategy
22.7%
Energy market restructuring to deliver lower business energy costs
20.1%
Greater public investment in infrastructure
17.7%
Articulation of an industrial strategy
16.6%
Improved incentives for investment in skills and vocational training
15.0%
A Free Trade Agreement with the United States
14.7%
Political stability
12.8%
Improved SME access to finance
12.5%
Deregulatory measures for investment in technology and R&D
11.4%
Planning reform
10.7%
Improved access to skilled migrants
9.1%
Greater devolution
1.8%
Don't know
0.1%

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