Empowering Our Youth: A Call to Action for a Brighter Future

Why We Should Be Deeply Concerned About the Future of Our Young People

This week marked a moment of excitement for many students as they eagerly opened their results. Amidst the cheers and celebrations, there’s something pressing we need to talk about. Can we truly ignore the relentless rise in NEET figures—those young individuals who find themselves Not in Education, Employment, or Training? It feels like a national emergency, doesn’t it? So, while we congratulate our hard-working students and dedicated educators, let’s also look at the bigger picture.

NEET Statistics: A Wake-Up Call

As a nation, we’ve prided ourselves on forging opportunities for our youth. But honestly, it seems the momentum has shifted towards prioritising growth over the development of young talent. Over the past five years, Level 2 apprenticeship starts have plummeted by a staggering 30%. Yes, you read that right. And job vacancies? They are at historic lows too.

If we don’t recalibrate our approach soon, we’re on a fast track to further marginalising our vibrant youth. Isn’t that a thought that should keep us up at night? With every passing day, we risk letting potential slip through our fingers, and that feels like a tragedy waiting to unfold.

Concrete Steps Towards Change

So what can we do about this? It’s time for some real talk and concrete actions. Here are a few ideas I believe we can advocate for to enhance apprenticeship accessibility:

1. Introduce subsidised public transport for young people to ease their travel for training and work.
2. Reform child benefit rules that seem utterly disconnected from the realities many families face today.
3. Roll out Foundation Apprenticeships in key sectors like Hospitality and Retail where demand is rising.
4. Fast-track the approval process for the Level 2 Assistant Administrator standard, allowing young people to step into roles that can kick-start their careers.
5. Create tailored incentives for employers, focusing on hiring young talent rather than the usual cookie-cutter experiences.
6. Expand the maths and English policy from Foundation Apprenticeships to encompass all apprenticeships for 16- to 18-year-olds.

Not only would these measures uplift our young people, but they would also ensure we’re nurturing a society that thrives. There’s a certain responsibility we all carry, whether as parents, educators, or even just community members. We have a saying at City Skills: empowering our youth is crucial for a thriving society. So what’s stopping us from taking action?

Reflecting on Our Role

Honestly, I think every generation has its challenges, but failing our youth feels particularly heartbreaking. I remember my first job at a local cafe and how it shaped my view of the world. That experience not only taught me the value of hard work but also built my confidence. Many young people today are deprived of such formative experiences, and it saddens me.

As we draw closer to answering the question of what steps we need to take, let’s not forget to engage in conversations. It starts with discussions around the dinner table, coffee catch-ups, or community meetings. It’s essential for us to connect and share ideas, pushing for change together.

What Do You Think?

As we celebrate the achievements of our young people, consider this pivotal question: How can we collectively ensure that every young person has a fair shot at success? What are we willing to do to uplift the generation rising behind us? Your thoughts could be the spark that ignites change.

Let’s keep this dialogue going and put our heads together. After all, the future belongs to them—and it’s up to us to make sure they’re ready for it.

So let’s raise a cup of coffee to our youth and their potential. Cheers!

#CitySkills #SkillsMeansGrowth #FutureTalent