“The FSB is the latest business group to suggest ways to repair the ladder of opportunity for young people in this country. We are only going to deal with political parties’ wish to curb access to foreign workers if we iron out the kinks in our domestic talent pipeline – and that means policymakers getting skills and access to work policies right. Planning this out with employers is where to start.

“FSB allude to the importance of buses to enable people to get to work. Getting this right chime with our own recent research with the Institute for Employment Studies which suggests small and large employers want the next government to prioritise access to financial support for people starting work. They want help for people with the cost of work crisis such as with travel costs and workwear for those returning to work after caring, ill health or having been out of work for more than a year.

“We strongly support the FSB’s emphasis for the next government to link health and employment. The next government must pull levers to get NHS waiting lists down because that is a growing factor of economic inactivity.

“We hope the detailed recommendations on employment from businesses groups lead the next government to draw up a coherent workforce plan for the UK, that helps us overcome the acute labour shortages that persist in many sectors.”