Sixteen areas of the UK have been granted millions of pounds from the government to boost job prospects in their area.

The government unveiled plans on Tuesday that it says will mean no 18-21-year-old in the UK is left without an employment or training opportunity as part of its “Get Britain Working” plans.

It has picked areas across the UK struggling with unemployment and high levels of long-term sicknesses that are preventing them from working, sharing a £240m pot across the regions.

Here are the areas that set to benefit.

‘Youth trailblazers’

In these eight areas, the government will provide funding to get young people aged 18-21 into employment, education or training.

Liverpool

Young people in Liverpool will benefit from a £5bn grant. The region will test new ways of supporting young people into employment or training by bringing together and enhancing existing programmes in partnership with local areas.

People in the Liverpool City region struggle with handling second jobs, low-paid jobs, and temporary work, according to the Work Foundation.

West Midlands

The West Midlands will also share a slice of the £240m. The West Midlands has the highest poverty rate in the UK at 27%, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Added to this, the region has the highest rates of in-work poverty and the highest rates of in-work child poverty.

The region’s mayor, Richard Parker, said earlier this year he would work with businesses to create 20,000 new work experience placements, training placements and apprenticeships for young people. “Tackling youth unemployment is my biggest priority,” he said after the area was confirmed as receiving funding.

Tees Valley

In the Tees Valley, young people are facing challenges finding work. In May, the number of benefit claimants aged 18-24 stood at 6.9%, compared to the national average of 5.1%.

“Economic inactivity” — the number of people unemployed, not employed or looking for work — is the highest in the North East.

Out of the 104,700 people not in work in the area, 34,800 are not due to long term sickness, according to the area’s labour market profile.

East Midlands

Year on year, the number of people unemployed in the East Midlands rose from around 68,700 to around 90,200 over the same period.

The East Midlands Chamber, which supports businesses across the region, cautioned in October that nearly seven out of 10 businesses said they have difficulty recruiting staff in the past three months, adding: “it’s essential the new government prioritises investment into skills, so we can get candidates that match the skills employers need and get more people into work.”

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Kendall called Peterborough a “hot spot for youth unemployment,” with 1,350 young people claiming Universal Credit.

The most advertised occupation in Peterborough was found to be metal working production and maintenance fitters at 2.2%, Cambridgeshire Live reported.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson said the £5bn funding “will be transformational” for the jobs market.

Other regions

Greater London and Wales

There are three other youth trailblazer regions — two in Greater London and one in Wales — but the exact locations have not been named.

‘Inactivity trailblazers’

In addition to the eight regions, eight areas of the country have been earmarked as inactivity trailblazers.

Each area will receive £20m in a drive to reduce the number of people who cannot work because of ill health.

These locations are in West Yorkshire, the North East, South Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, two in London and one in Wales. The location in Wales has not yet been named.

Three areas – West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the North East – will be given additional NHS funding to stop people falling out of work completely due to ill health.

The highest unemployment rate is in the North East, where 5.6% of people are unemployed.

It is also one of the poorest regions in the UK, with 25% of the population living below the poverty line.

Tracy Brabin, the Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire, welcomed the news.

Currently, around 101,000 people in West Yorkshire are unable to work “because of one or more health conditions,” according to the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.

“To grow our economy we must unleash the potential of everyone in it, and that includes giving those being held back by health conditions a fair chance to flourish,” Brabin said.

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith said it was “a great opportunity to help break down barriers that prevent people in York and North Yorkshire getting back into work”.