Breaking Barriers

Join sector leaders to tackle the NEET crisis and shape solutions that could influence the Milburn Review at this collective from FE News in partnership with Edge Foundation.

Leaders in the Further Education, Skills and Employability Sector are facing the youth opportunity crisis of a generation. Nearly one million young people, approximately one in eight, aged 16-24, are currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Over a quarter now cite long-term sickness or disability as a barrier, compared to just 12% in 2013/14.

The Government has called this a "crisis of opportunity." Alan Milburn's independent review, launching in the winter of 2025, will examine why increasing numbers of young people are falling out of work or education before their careers have begun. This also feeds into the Timms review on benefits and the Maynard review on 'Keep Britain Working'. With interim findings for the Milburn review due in Spring 2026 and the final report in Summer 2026, the window to influence policy and practice is now!

The Breaking Barriers Collective is where you'll help shape that window. This isn't just another conference where you'll be talked at. It's a collective intelligence event. You'll work alongside sector leaders, local authorities, youth services, and young people with lived experience to co-create practical solutions and policy recommendations that will feed into the national conversation.