The Grands Départs of the Tour de France from Britain in 2027 will showcase how mega sporting events can create significant opportunities for young people to gain real life work experience.

A Readiness to Work programme, delivered by British Cycling, will allow 18- to 25-year-olds to gain work experience through volunteering at the Grands Départs.

The launch comes at a time when government reports have stated that one million young people are not in education, employment or training. Among 24-year-olds, 45% have never had a job, yet 80% want to work.

The Readiness to Work programme will see 300 young people, who apply to be JOY Maker volunteers, trained in employability skills, including application readiness - CV and interviews - resilience, financial education and personal brand.

They will also receive three months of mentoring with a professional in sectors such as sport and performance, event management, professional services, and marketing and communications.

Stage Three of the famous Tour de France 2027 will start in Welshpool and end in Cardiff on Sunday, July 4.

British Cycling chief executive Jon Dutton OBE said: “We know there are more than one million 16 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training and, for many of those, 84%, want to change that,” said Mr Dutton. “We want to address some of the employability challenges.

“This offers an opportunity for young people to come and enjoy a mega sporting event, but also to build confidence, resilience and to get skills that will benefit getting them into employment.”

To find out more about the programme, visit the website at letourgb.com/readiness-to-work .

Readiness to Work is part of British Cycling’s JOY social impact programme for Grand Départ GB, that will create positive social change both on and off the bike..

The other programmes are: girl’s participation; soft power, trade and diplomacy; arts and culture; digital schools and a community engagement toolkit.

Anyone aged 16+ can sign up now to be a JOY Maker volunteer at https://www.letourgb.com/volunteer/ .