Marks and Spencer will help up to 1,000 young people kickstart their careers amid fears that young unemployment could rise to 18 per cent by next spring. The retail giant has said it will offer traineeships to hundreds of 18 to 24-year-olds over the next year-and-a-half. Successful applicants will go through a six-month scheme where they will learn about retail management and confidence building as well as gain hands-on experience in M&S stores. They will then undertake further training before being handed full-time jobs across the company. M&S retail director Thinus Keeve said: 'Retail is one of the few careers where you can start young, learn fast, lead teams early and build an incredible future through hard work and ambition. 'This programme is about opening doors for the next generation and giving talented young people the chance to thrive.' In a recent blog post on the M&S website, chief executive Stuart Machin said: 'A Saturday job can change a young person's life. 'I know, because it transformed mine. But when I think about the challenges facing young people today, I worry that many won't have the same opportunity. Marks and Spencer will offer traineeships to 1,000 jobless young people over the next year-and-a-half Chief executive Stuart Machin (pictured) began his career pushing trollies at SavaCentre before working his way up through the ranks of the retail industry to M&S boss'That doesn't need to be the case – we can do so much more to provide the opportunities, experiences, and skills to unlock their confidence and get them into good jobs.'Mr Machin, whose first role was pushing shopping trollies at SavaCentre, said it was this Saturday job that turned him into a 'more confident young man', which gave him 'pride'. He became a supervisor at 17 years old and a year later was encouraged to apply to the trainee management scheme, which meant leaving home. At 26 Mr Machin was promoted to store director. 'Retail gave me an opportunity to learn about store operations, supply chain, leadership, safety, product buying and knowledge,' he said. 'More than anything it gave me responsibility at a young age.' M&S already supports unemployed young people with its Marks & Start scheme, run in partnership with The King's Trust, in which participants undertake a four-week placement to gain practical retail experience. Around 80 per cent successfully complete the scheme and secure a 16-hour contract for three months - while roughly two-thirds then go on to get a permanent contract with the retail giant. The company now wants to help young people kickstart their careers with its new traineeship programme.