The NEETS crisis

Over a million young people in the UK aged 16 to 24 are currently NEET, (not in education, employment or training) This number is only going to grow without urgent action. As the Milburn Review has made clear, our current education and skills system is letting down young people by failing to prepare them for employment, with the cohort who don't take the academic route post-16 most at risk.

We want to support young people who are NEET, or at risk of becoming NEET, to access high-quality, relevant skills and training. We advocate for a broad and balanced education that provides young people with an opportunity to explore future careers and build essential skills. Post-16, we want to see an expansion of high-quality vocational pathways into employment, including apprenticeships.

Jacqui Smith endorses Small Business Summer

Edge met Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith recently to update her on the Apprenticeships Work and Small Business Summer campaigns and she filmed an endorsement of Small Business Summer.

Deeper Learning and Place

Rosie Clayton gives an overview of place-based education in the UK and wonders if Andy Burnham's Manchester view of education will translate to a national outlook, in the light of the Young people and work: interim report led by Alan Milburn.

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The Milburn Diagnosis

In this episode of our "Insights from the Edge" podcast, we looked at the findings of the interim report from the Milburn Review with a particular lens on what young people themselves are telling us. With Olly Newton, Ayesha Baloch and Lauren Mistry.

Address education-business links to solve the NEET crisis

The reasons behind the current NEET crisis are varied and complex. Elaine Lilley MBE, Chair of Edge Foundation's Board of Trustees, argues that the links between education and business must be restored.

Small Business Summer

Led by Amazing Apprenticeships, Small Business Summer helps young people in years 7 to 13 find out about the small businesses in their local community and understand the huge benefits of being an apprentice in a smaller organisation.

Response to the post-16 Education and Skills white paper

The White Paper, provided detail on the Government’s plan to build a world-leading skills system which meets the needs of employers and supports innovation and research.

The Chancellor's announcement on youth employment

We were pleased to see the Government commit to guaranteeing a job or training place for every 18 to 21-year-old on long-term benefits, strengthening their Youth Guarantee promise.

Apprenticeships Work

Apprenticeships Work is an Edge campaign to encourage more small businesses to take on apprentices. SMEs are the backbone of our economy and our communities, but often struggle to engage with the apprenticeship system.

Edge Apprenticeship report chaos to... half

Chaos to Coordination

Young people are now more interested in apprenticeships than ever before, but the system for finding and applying for apprenticeships is failing to keep pace. Our policy report tries to understand how to make apprenticeships work much more effectively, especially for SMEs.

Agents of Change

SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, but their participation in apprenticeships has been in sustained decline. Our policy report explores how we can increase apprenticeship opportunities in SMEs through brokerage services.

Keeping young people in learning until the age of 18 - does it work?

Evidence from raising the participation age in England. Eleven years ago, the Raising of the Participation Age placed a duty on young people to remain in learning (although not confined to staying on at school) until their 18th birthday. Does it work? A research report.

What are students saying about T Levels?

An Edge research report found that students generally valued the coherence of T Levels, which aligned their learning with specific career paths. The student voice is invaluable in understanding the real impact of T Levels.