29 July 2026
Breaking Barriers Collective report on NEET crisis
In June, the Edge Foundation and FE News convened the Breaking Barriers collective to examine solutions to the NEET crisis to influence the Milburn review.
The report from the meeting raises concerns for care leavers, young people facing health challenges, from some ethnic backgrounds and who experience exclusion. It also notes the reduction in traditional entry-level roles, the impact of AI, rising childcare costs and widening regional inequalities as risking higher NEET figures over the coming years.
In response, it lists a six-point action plan to address the NEET crisis.
At the event, the report notes there was support for stronger careers education alongside clearer pathways. Under the first action plan point, one of the specific actions is to ‘guarantee high-quality careers education and guidance from an earlier age’.
Read more about the Breaking Barriers collective report on NEETs.
The report from the meeting raises concerns for care leavers, young people facing health challenges, from some ethnic backgrounds and who experience exclusion. It also notes the reduction in traditional entry-level roles, the impact of AI, rising childcare costs and widening regional inequalities as risking higher NEET figures over the coming years.
In response, it lists a six-point action plan to address the NEET crisis.
- A national transition framework from education to employment.
- A youth employment system that prioritises relationships and trust.
- Clearer and more inclusive routes into work.
- Place-based solutions that reflect local labour markets.
- An integrated cross-government youth opportunity strategy.
- Putting young people’s agency at the centre of reform.
At the event, the report notes there was support for stronger careers education alongside clearer pathways. Under the first action plan point, one of the specific actions is to ‘guarantee high-quality careers education and guidance from an earlier age’.
Read more about the Breaking Barriers collective report on NEETs.
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