Sir Keir Starmer will on Monday announce a major investment in apprenticeships in an effort to tackle rising youth unemployment.
Around 50,000 young people are expected to benefit from the £725m investment, which will see more apprenticeships created in sectors such as artificial intelligence, hospitality and engineering.
The Government aims to reverse the decline in the number of young people starting apprenticeships, which has fallen by almost 40% in the last decade.
The Prime Minister has also expressed his desire for apprenticeships to be treated with the same respect as degree courses.
At this year's Labor Party conference he said he wanted to see two-thirds of young people studying for a degree or apprenticeship.
Sir Keir said: “For too long, success has been measured by the number of young people going to university. That narrow view has held back opportunities and created barriers we must break down.
“If you choose an apprenticeship, you should have the same respect and opportunities as everyone else.”
Sir Keir will mark the announcement with a visit to McLaren's technology center near Woking, in Surrey, on Monday, where he will meet apprentices and other young people at the start of their careers.
McLaren, whose driver Lando Norris won the Formula 1 championship on Sunday, employs 84 people in its entry-level program and is developing apprenticeships in a variety of areas to increase that number.
The funding, which covers the next three years, includes a commitment to fully fund apprenticeship training in small and medium-sized businesses.
It also includes £140 million for regional mayors to link young people not in work, education or training (Neet) with local apprenticeships.
Ministers have been particularly concerned about the growing number of young people classified as NEETs, which experts say is on track to surpass one million for the first time since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
On Sunday, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden announced an investment of £820m to tackle the NEET problem, including more training and guaranteed jobs for long-term unemployed young people.
He said: “This funding is a down payment on the future of young people and the future of the country, creating real pathways to good jobs and providing work experience, training and guaranteed employment.”
The Government is also expected to set out its national youth strategy this week.
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, McFadden said young people had “not been treated well enough” in areas such as housing and employment.
He said: “Young people need better treatment. They need a government that believes in them.”
