BIS Research Paper Number 85: Research into training for young adults aged 19 to 24 who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
01 February 2013
Full report downloadable from the BIS website
The high number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) is a major concern and policy priority. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) provided additional funding in the academic year 2011-2012 to enable providers (colleges and third sector organisations) to offer young adults aged 19-24 who are NEET flexible vocationally-oriented programmes, personalised learning and individual intensive support with an emphasis on developing employability skills. BIS commissioned the NFER to carry out research to establish how well providers were able to prepare learners for further learning, Apprenticeships and other work, and to highlight what further actions they might need to take to secure such outcomes in the future. Undertaken in 2012, the research comprised consultations with seven stakeholders and fieldwork visits to 20 providers where interviews were conducted with a total of 70 strategic, operational and support staff and with a total of 85 learners participating in the courses.
Key Findings
- The provision was widely reported, by provider staff and learners, to have had a positive impact on learner confidence, aspirations, motivation to progress into employment and skills development. Approximately one third of respondents to a follow-up survey reported that they had progressed to employment, Apprenticeships, further education or voluntary positions
- Referrals and word of mouth are effective approaches to reaching and recruiting young adults Social media is becoming more frequently used for recruitment
- The young adults participating in the training particularly valued the one-to-one support, direction and guidance provided by tutors.