NEET's

Tuesday 12th October 2010, Grand Connaught Rooms - London, 08:30 - 14:10 (half day)

Looking for a NEET Solution: Tackling the Problem of those 'Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)'

Overview

The number of young people classified as NEET (not in education, employment or training) remains stubbornly high. In the first quarter of 2010 17.6% of 18-24 year olds were NEET, with the number of unemployed 16-24 year olds nearing a million. The former government set a Public Service Agreement to cut the number of NEETs to 7.6% for the whole of 2010. Although, final figures will not be published until June 2011, current statistics suggest this target is likely to missed.

In June 2009, Jon Coles of the Department for Education cited a study in the North East, which found that 15% of long-term NEET's die within 10 years. The social cost of NEET's are far reaching, with research undertaken by the London School of Economics showing that each NEET costs the taxpayer £97,000 over the course of their lifetime, with a total annual cost of £3.65billion.

The former government initiated several strategies to combat the NEET problem. The September Guarantee introduced in 2007, later extended to January, guaranteed a suitable place in education or training for all 16-17 year olds. Further strategies included the creation of 35,000 additional apprenticeships and the investment of £650 million in financial support to 16-18 year olds. This forum will consider how the new government will seek to tackle the NEET problem.

In May 2010, the coalition government announced plans to introduce a National Citizen Service, the project aims to provide all 16 year olds an opportunity to develop skills and give them experience of the work place. The government also announced plans to scrap the Future Jobs Fund and Train to Gain, reinvesting some savings into alternative schemes.

The tough economic climate and public service spending cuts pose many challenges in the effort to reengage young people into education, employment and training. On-going investment is vital in both preventative and interventionist strategies to ensure young people do not become permanently disengaged.

Agenda

08:30	Registration and Coffee
08:55	Chair’s Welcome Address Dr Geoff Hayward, Reader in Education and Director of Research, University of Oxford and Associate Director, ESRC Research Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (CONFIRMED)
09:10	Opening Keynote: Driving Forward Policy Development Latest data on young people NEET Early identification, prevention and positive intervention What are the key challenges in tackling the proportion of NEETs? How has the economic downturn impacted the number of young people NEET Lessons from the Activity Agreement and Entry to Learning pilots Ensuring joined-up services across age groups Working in partnership to develop services Olly Newton, NEET Policy Manager, Department for Education (CONFIRMED)
09:30	Realising Young People’s Ambitions Should the term NEET be used to identify young people not in employment, education or training? What incentives are needed to help young people reengage with employment, education and training? What barriers prevent young people from pursuing opportunities in education, volunteering and internships? Are current policies targeting the needs of all NEETs? Recognising the different needs of NEET groups What programmes are out there that are having a positive impact on reducing the number of NEETs? How can the voluntary, public and private sectors work together more effectively to engage the NEET group? Emma Langbridge, Head of Public Affairs, The Prince’s Trust (CONFIRMED)
09:50	The Effectiveness of NEET Strategies The economic cost of being NEET - an estimated £3.65 billion annually Ensuring services deliver value for money - measuring outcomes Targeting funding to those most in need Should funding be focused on preventative measures? Making use of data to inform strategies Emma Belton, Research Manager, Audit Commission (CONFIRMED)
10:10	Questions and Answers Session
10:25	Coffee Break and Networking
10:55	Flexible Delivery to Reengage Young People Ensuring flexible entry into further education and vocational training Personalised approaches to learning The impact of diplomas on reducing the proportion of NEETs Targeting resources at high-risk young people Contractual agreements between schools and career services Aligning skills with employer needs Working with employers to design qualifications How are schools and further education institutions collaborating to support NEETs? The likely impact of raising the participation age Graham Hoyle OBE, Chief Executive, Association of Learning Providers (CONFIRMED)
11:15	Meeting the Needs of Young People and Employers Promoting apprenticeships to employers and learners The role of apprenticeships in improving the skills of young people How to make apprenticeship services accessible to disengaged groups Engaging with the private and third sector to deliver the apprenticeship programme The role of careers and skills advice in schools The online apprenticeship vacancy matching service How has the recession impacted apprenticeship recruitment? Ensuring provision of services are matched to needs Richard Marsh, Employer Services Director, National Apprenticeship Service (CONFIRMED)
11:35	Questions and Answers Session
11:55	Tackling the NEET Generation What outcomes do employers want from the education system? The role of the private sector in providing training and employment opportunities to young people The impact of financial incentives on employer-led apprenticeships Increased collaboration between the public and private sectors Future for youth enterprise schemes The role of business in designing and providing sector-related diplomas and qualifications Working with local authorities to provide effective services Sharing best practice with the public sector James Fothergill, Head of Education and Skills, CBI (CONFIRMED)
12:15	Developing Local Strategies Working in partnership with the third and private sector to deliver NEET strategies The impact of the transfer of responsibility for 16-19 education and training to local authorities Recognising individual needs and tailoring services Enhancing information, advice and guidance services Joined up services - potential for the one-stop-shop model Engaging with young people in service design, evaluation and revision Identifying early risk factors in young people Developing multi-agency NEET programmes Aligning funding and joint-commissioning of services Tackling inter-generational worklessness Avoiding duplication and responding to gaps in provision Nick Duggan, Assistant Director, Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, Sheffield City Council (CONFIRMED)
12:35	Case Study: Empowering Young People An early intervention approach to tackling disengagement – providing mentors in schools Translating the ‘City Year’ programme into a UK model The achievements of the Whole School, Whole Child model Developing coordinated services The impact of civic engagement Helping young people develop practical skills Sophie Livingstone, Chief Executive, City Year London (CONFIRMED) Babatunde Ladeinde, Corps Member, City Year London (CONFIRMED) Zoe de Hayes, Corps Member, City Year London (CONFIRMED)
12:55	Questions and Answers Session
13:10	Lunch and Networking
14:10	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from all sectors of the education and children services community, including schools, colleges, connexions, jobcentre plus, local education authorities, NEET strategy teams, children in care teams, 14-19 teams, social inclusion officers, employment engagement teams, training and apprenticeship teams, youth offending teams, housing service providers, central government departments & bodies, academia, health and social care, welfare groups and the voluntary sector.