The missing ingredient in the youth opportunity debate
In this month's CEO message, Dr Katerina Kolyva outlines ETF's priorities for the Milburn Review and makes the case for greater investment in the FE and skills workforce as a driver of social mobility.
The Government's plans for young people, from 45-day work placements to an apprenticeship at 18, will succeed if we all commit now to championing the role of teachers, trainers and support staff who prepare young people for work. If we want to reduce the number of young people classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET), investing in the people who support young people cannot be an afterthought.
The missing ingredient is our workforce
A placement, an apprenticeship or a first job with training is only as good as the professionals who prepare young people for it and support them through it. They help build occupational competence, confidence, self-belief, and resilience and navigate the expectations of the workplace. Many are dual professionals, combining current industry expertise with teaching skill.
Experts in skills and FE teaching and learning who shaped our Beyond the label report, developed with FE News, were clear that the workforce is not resistant to change. The challenge is capacity and confidence, and confidence grows when educators are trusted as professionals rather than treated as delivery mechanisms.
We cannot talk about young people who are NEET without talking about SEND. Teachers and leaders tell us that many learners arrive in post-16 education carrying the weight of earlier experiences, including exclusion, repeated failure or unmet needs. Too often, providers are left guessing rather than anticipating those needs, which can cost young people their confidence, attendance and attainment. That is why our report calls for systems that anticipate need and for consistent, post-16 specific professional development so that every member of staff, including those joining from industry, can support learners with SEND. Getting SEND right is essential to success in youth employment.
What we are asking for
We have engaged with the Milburn Review from the start. In February, our response to its call for evidence set out the central role of the FE and skills workforce in reducing the number of young people who are NEET. Last month, ahead of the final report, we set out four actions we want to see for the sector.
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Clear responsibility: make the FE and skills sector part of the system by design. FE and skills providers and their workforce should help shape that system nationally and locally, rather than simply being asked to deliver it.
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Funding that reflects what it takes to support participation. Colleges and training providers need to be able to respond flexibly to young people who join at different points or need extra support.
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Accountability for whether young people participate and progress. Qualifications matter, but they cannot be the only measure of success. Building confidence, developing employability skills and preparing young people for the workplace are also vital outcomes.
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A system capable of supporting young people facing the greatest barriers. That requires flexible pathways, strong transitions and skilled people competent in understanding the diversity of learners and their needs.
Final thoughts
Learner outcomes depend on those who teach and support learners.
At ETF, our work on workforce recruitment, retention, professional development and career progression is grounded in a simple belief: the quality of the learner experience depends on the capability and confidence of the professionals who support them.
If we are serious about reducing the number of young people who are NEET, and about improving social mobility by helping more young people into productive, fulfilling work, then we must invest in the FE and skills workforce.
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