Talking to young people about work and employment support

• One million or so young people in the UK are NEETs – not in education, employment, or training.
• New findings from a Growth Company pilot show that targeted support, employer engagement, and practical experience can significantly improve outcomes.
• Michelle Leeson, Director of Employment, Justice, and Health at the Growth Company, calls for practical support help young people move into meaningful and long-lasting work.

Alan Milburn’s interim report on young people and work lays bare a stark reality.

Around a million 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK are not in education, employment, or training. Without serious intervention, that figure is only expected to rise.

As the man himself points out, such a trend represents both a moral and economic failure, with a generation of young people, and perhaps the country as a whole, at risk of being left behind.

The Growth Company has delivered employment support across the North of England and the Midlands over the past few decades, so we’re all too aware of the pressures that young people encounter in the job market.

Why are so many young people NEET?

We also know that there’s no catch-all explanation for this crisis.

Does education have a part to play? Is the benefits system a factor? Should we blame the pandemic? Are smartphones, social media, and AI involved somehow? And what about the available support, or lack thereof?

The answer is yes… and it depends…

There are big, structural factors that influence everyone and everything, such as technology, globalisation, and government policy.

Then there are the more discrete ones that impact certain groups or individuals. For example, at their June parliamentary briefing, the Work Foundation observed that some jobseekers face geographically specific hurdles, like poor transport links and fragmented support services.

Inside the Growth Company youth employment pilot

If we’re to have any hope of tackling youth unemployment, it’s crucial for employability professionals to understand both sides of this equation.

That’s why we recently spoke directly to affected young people about their exposure to the job market and employment support. We wanted to find out what they thought the main problems were and how we could help solve them.

From October 2025 to April of this year, more than 90 young jobseekers enrolled in our youth employment pilot scheme. At the start, they all filled out a survey. After reviewing the findings, our colleagues designed a series of webinars; some of which were delivered together with external partners.

Throughout the pilot, participants had the opportunity to provide feedback through informal discussions. The second phase involved face-to-face events in Sheffield and Salford focused on team building, decision-making, and communications skills.

So, what did we learn?

Well, we’ll be sharing the final data in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, I can disclose some of the headlines.

Key findings from our youth pilot

Many of the participants had been unemployed for a long time and had limited practical work, training, and interview experience. A high number also lacked IT skills and access to digital devices, which restricted their ability to search and apply for jobs. On top of this, a significant portion suffered from mental or physical health issues that required ongoing specialist support.

Despite these difficulties, by the end of the pilot, over half of those who signed up had moved into work or training. Many of the rest reported improved confidence, as well as a better grasp of the career options and apprenticeships available to them.

Ways to improve outcomes for NEET young people

What about our recommendations, then?

First, we need to give people ways to build experience. Offer short job placements, taster days, work experience, or employer-run projects so people can overcome the ‘but I/you don’t have any experience’ conundrum.

Second, prioritise wellbeing by offering help for things like anxiety, and make sure there’s a clear way to refer people who are already getting, or waiting for, support.

Third, run hands-on job search support. This could encompass assistance with CVs and cover letters, sitting with people while they complete applications, and providing lots of mock interview practice, including one-to-one sessions.

Fourth, explain entry routes into work. Run sessions on apprenticeships and beginner-level jobs, focusing on popular sectors like retail, hospitality, digital, the creative arts, construction, and health and social care.

Fifth, make support accessible for everyone. Be flexible with attendance, provide adjustments for people with disabilities or neurodiverse needs, give clear and simple instructions, and facilitate remote options where possible.

Sixth, provide transport guidance. Focus on local opportunities, match placements to public transit options, and point people towards relevant travel support.

Finally, help people build routines and get work-ready, from short sessions on subjects such as daily practices and being on time to sleep habits and preparing for life in the office, factory floor, or site. This is especially important for those whose schedules are currently an obstacle to finding and holding down a job.

A joined-up approach to supporting young people into work

We’re keen to expand the scope of coaching and widen employer engagement, too – something we’re currently doing through our delivery of the Jobs Guarantee in Greater Manchester.

In the end, while their circumstances may be unique, young people are just like everybody else. Instead of gimmicks, they need access to the right support at the right time. They also need opportunities to gain meaningful work experience. Hopefully, different stakeholders can come together to establish avenues of support that recognise this and give them a fair chance to succeed.

About the Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health support across the North of England and beyond.

Learn more about the dedicated youth support that we deliver.

About the author

Michelle Leeson is the Managing Director for Employment, Justice, and Health at the Growth Company. Michelle has over 20 years’ experience of working in welfare to work, recruitment, skills, and careers guidance. A graduate of Liverpool John Moore’s University, she is passionate about leading and developing teams that change peoples’ lives by enabling them to move into employment.