ProgressWith Champion Change
Purpose
ThePolicy&Insight GuidingTomorrow
GoodYouthEmployment Symposium
Create your strategic action plan for 2026 with the original, digital benchmarking tool.
TheYouth Guarantee
Explore the latest policy announcements that aim to create opportunity for all
LaurenMistry Deputy CEO
“The direction for change is becoming clearer...”
Welcome
Welcome to the final 2025 edition of our quarterly Champion & Change magazine.
We’ve brought together the latest early career insights, best practice guidance, and sector updates to support your organisation in creating meaningful pathways into the world of work
As we reach the end of 2025, the youth employment landscape is entering another period of significant change Following the Youth Guarantee and major national reviews of work, wellbeing and the curriculum, the direction for change in 2026 is becoming clearer. These developments signal a growing commitment to strengthening the pathways young people depend onand they highlight the vital role employers, educators and youth organisations will continue to play in turning policy into real-world progress.
2025 has also been a standout year for Youth Employment UK. More than 8,200 young people contributed to the Youth Voice Census, giving us significant insight into their experiences, hopes and concerns We expanded our involvement in the Youth Guarantee, broadened our influence across key policy areas, and delivered our most impactful Youth Employment Week yet - connecting thousands of young people to opportunities and bringing
hundreds of organisations together behind a shared mission.
As we look towards 2026, our focus remains firmly on driving highquality, evidence-led practice across the sector With the Good Youth Employment Benchmark now open for Members, organisations have a powerful way to measure their progress, recognise their impact over the past year, and identify where they can go further The months ahead offer a chance to build on everything we’ve achieved together in 2025 and to shape a stronger, more accessible youth employment system for the future.
Whether you’re just beginning to define your strategy or you’re enhancing an established early careers programme, this edition provides fresh insights and useful tools to help you take your impact and success to the next level. We hope that in these pages you find ideas you can act on, find topics worth investing in, and get renewed confidence in the difference you and your organisation can make in 2026 and beyond.
LaurenMistry Deputy CEO
OUR IMPACT IN 2025
3.2
170K+
Opportunity Finder views from young people searching for their next steps
Total Followers
Connecting young people, policymakers, educators and employers with trusted youth employment resources.
8,200+
Young people shared their views and experiences in the Youth Voice Census
Total Followers
19K+
Young people using online work experience courses to explore sectors and careers
Total Followers
Confirmed partner for the Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority Youth Guarantee, bringing together support for employers and young people through our Next Steps digital gateway.
15 Expert-led webinars inspiring 600+ organisations to strengthen their youth employment practices.
Launched 2 new NHS careers resources designed to excite, inform and guide the future health and science workforce.
Total Followers
11
Brilliant Youth Ambassadors welcomed, who actively champion young people’s voices nationwide
100,000+
Digital engagements during Youth Employment Week
Total Followers
20
Events held across the UK to celebrate action and inspire change.
Total Followers
Our new Talent Tap Quiz launched and was explored by thousands of employers looking to strengthen their early careers strategy.
This year has brought sharper insight, stronger strategy and focused action across our work.
As the challenges facing young people evolve, we’ve deepened our understanding of local and national needs, worked closely with employers, and supported partners to respond with strategies that make a real, meaningful difference. It has been a year of shared momentum and change.
Through our Employer Forum and wider events, we’ve brought employers together to share challenges, improve practice and build better routes into work for young people
We have also taken a leading role at national conferences, sector events and in the media, ensuring youth employment remains a visible priority A major highlight was hosting our annual Good Youth Employment Symposium, sparking discussion and shaping solutions for the year ahead We also launched our Connected Communities Forum with NCFE, strengthening place-based approaches and creating space for local and combined authorities to share what’s working.
From expanding our digital resources to strengthening our community, we’ve worked to turn insight into action and ensure that real change is possible for every organisation we support.
We are incredibly proud of the change made this year and of the dedicated team behind it. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re looking forward to continuing this work with you.
WaysEmployersCanPartnerwith SchoolsandCollegestoShape CurriculumandAssessmentReform
Following the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review, significant changes are coming. Part of the motivation for curriculum reform is to improve young people’s future career prospects As an employer, you have a vital role to play throughout this process.
Let’s explore some of the ways you can work with local schools and colleges to help shape these reforms, provide opportunities, and benefit from a more highly skilled talent pool of young prospective employees
Why employer input matters:
Limited or no direct interaction with employers at school.
Curriculum must evolve to reflect today’s economy and working life
Employers provide insights into indemand skills for work and success
Benefits to your business:
Enhance brand visibility and positioning.
Early access to promising talent for recruitment pipelines
Achieve corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals
Here are a few ways you can partner with schools and colleges:
1. Curriculum Advisory Boards
Curriculum reform will involve significant changes to teaching, assessments, and qualifications
Volunteering on curriculum advisory boards relevant to your industry or expertise is a great way to influence curriculum reforms at a high level and help to ensure students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to launch a career
2. Guest Workshops and Lectures
These impactful sessions could focus on sectors, jobs, or employability. They have great potential to inspire young
people, show them what is possible, open up new pathways they might not have thought about, and equip them with skills that will last a lifetime
3. Work-related Opportunities
The CAR review found that industrial placements offered excellent benefits to both students and employers.
Offering work experience, internships, job shadowing days, and similar opportunities gives students a behindthe-scenes look at working life and the chance to have a go in a real-world situation.
Continue reading the full article.
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POLICY NEWS
Latest reports, government developments, and policy news that impact the youth employment landscape.
UK Government Announces National Youth Guarantee
The national Youth Guarantee is one of the most significant steps forward for young people in over a decade
After years of rising youth unemployment and increasing economic inactivity, this investment represents a commitment to young people’s futures
The Youth Guarantee, as described in DWP’s draft announcement, includes: A Youth Guarantee Gateway for every young person on Universal Credit looking for work Over 360 Youth Hubs for accessible local support. Around 300,000 additional work experience and training opportunities, including 150,000 placements and 145,000 SWAPs. Funding for 50,000 extra apprenticeships, with training fully funded for eligible under-25s in SMEs.
A Jobs Guarantee: six months’ paid, government-funded work for 18–21-year-olds who have spent 18 months on Universal Credit. Earlier intervention to prevent young people becoming NEET.
Over the last 13 years, Youth Employment UK has been building the evidence, partnerships, and youth voice that underpin this announcement
This work has included co-chairing the Youth Employment Group and contributing to the Young Person’s Guarantee proposals, serving as Secretariat to the APPG for Youth Employment and running inquiries on mental health, employer engagement, economic inactivity, and place-based approaches
These commitments reflect the core principles of the Young Person’s Guarantee: early intervention, personalised support, partnership delivery and no young person left behind.
Click here to read the full article and explore the Youth Guarantee announcements, where more detail is needed, and how it will influence our 2030 strategy as a system leader, national body and collaborative organisation.
Autumn Budget 2025
A Welcome Step Forward
- Now We Must Deliver a Youth Employment System That Works for Everyone
The Autumn Budget introduces strengthened support for young people and outcomes across the youth employment landscape
After years of rising youth unemployment and persistent long-term NEET figures, these announcements reflect recommendations we’ve long championed for to remove barriers for young people.
It signals a focused approach to investing in skills, guidance and progression But its impact will depend on urgent action.
Government must now move quickly to ensure delivery is connected and accessible so every young person can benefit from routes into education, training and work across the UK.
Click here to explore the announcements, and what needs to happen next.
Curriculum & Assessment Review (CAR)
The Curriculum and Assessment Review aims to modernise England’s national curriculum by strengthening core knowledge while embedding essential life and work skills With first teaching planned for September 2028 and the final curriculum due by Spring 2027, these
reforms represent a major shift in how young people will learn and prepare for the future This article outlines the proposed changes, the challenges that remain, and what the updated curriculum is likely to mean for young people navigating education and early careers.
How Assessment Reform Will Impact the Skills of School-Leavers
New curriculum and assessment reforms will reshape the learning experience for young people. While parts of the National Curriculum remain strong, the Review highlights areas that no longer meet learners’ needs, prompting major changes in the years ahead. These
reforms will be especially important for young people reaching school leaving age during the transition. Click here to explore how the updated curriculum and assessment approach will affect school leavers’ choices and skills.
The Keep Britain Working Review
The Keep Britain Working Review sets out plans to tackle rising economic inactivity driven by poor health and disability. It calls for shared responsibility between government,
employers, and employees to improve workforce wellbeing. Click here to read the key proposals, the strengths, and what is missing.
Youth Employment UK will be supporting the Milburn Review Discover more
The annual Good Youth Employment Symposium brings together employers, policymakers, and young people to share the evidence, insight, and expertise that shape effective talent strategies
These four features bring together the standout insights, real-world case studies, and fresh thinking shared across the panels - offering a practical recap of the conversations that defined the day
Aligning Education and Employment
Our experts tackled one of the biggest challenges facing young people today: preparing for a rapidly changing world of work Our opening panel explored how education, employers, and policymakers can equip young people with the skills employers truly need
From uncovering in-demand skills to rethinking qualifications, the discussion offered practical strategies.
Read the full panel recap for insights shaping the next generation of talent.
Designing Entry Points that Work
This panel explored how employers can connect with diverse young talent and create meaningful entry points into the workforce. Discussions focused on early outreach, apprenticeships, and employer branding, with practical strategies to make opportunities more accessible and inspiring. Key takeaways highlighted the importance of starting early, being consistent, and taking a progressive approach to engagement from primary school onwards.
Read the full panel recap to discover strategies driving applications, boosting diversity, and shaping the future of young talent.
Breaking Down Barriers
This panel explored how employers can make recruitment more accessible and appealing to young people. Discussions focused on practical strategies to create youth-friendly hiring practices and ensure opportunities are inclusive and meaningful.
Key discussions emphasized that while employers are committed to reaching young talent, real progress requires listening to young people, understanding their experiences, and making concrete changes to hiring processes. Read the full panel recap for strategies to reach underrepresented groups and build a truly youth-friendly workplace
Creating Workplaces That Keep Young People
The final panel of the day explored retention and wellbeing, focusing on how employers can help young people stay well and succeed in the workplace Key takeaways showed that pay and benefits matter, but wellbeing and a supportive environment are central to retaining young talent Today’s young people are increasingly open about mental health, and employers can benefit by normalising conversations and celebrating wellbeing initiatives.
Read the full panel recap for practical strategies to foster a thriving workplace for all employees.
Toolkit created by our 2025 Youth Ambassadors.
Breaking down barriers for young people isn’t just important - it’s essential. No one understands the impact these barriers can have, or the value of a committed employer, more than young people themselves.
From October to December 2025, our volunteer Youth Ambassadors took this challenge on. Alongside their full-time commitments, they dedicated time each week to designing and delivering a project shaped around one central question:
How can apprenticeship recruitment become more inclusive, appealing, and reflective of the diverse young talent waiting to step into the workforce?
Through this project, they explored the experiences of young people and employers, gathering insights that they turned into a practical, action-ready toolkit designed to help you make meaningful change in your organisation
The Project: Driving Change in Apprenticeship Recruitment
Project lead Husna was especially passionate about their chosen topic Having experienced apprenticeship recruitment first-hand, she saw the opportunities for change that would ensure no young person would be left behind
Husna, Hannah, Amina and Khadija wanted a tool that employers would be able to use; to create something that would actively break down barriers and open doors.
This is why they made sure every decision was driven by 2 key perspectives: the current experiences of young people, and the challenges employers face.
The Research
They delved into data, starting with the Youth Voice Census, the UK’s largest annual survey of young people
A clear theme emerged in their findings Despite the success of apprenticeships, young people still face strong pressure from educators and parents to pursue traditional routes Many don’t receive the encouragement, guidance or information they need to confidently choose an apprenticeship - even when it might be the path that suits them best
However, numbers alone can’t tell the whole story. They spoke directly with apprentices and connected with our Employer Members. Through interviews, they uncovered what’s working, what’s not, and where there’s a need for change.
Access Your Own Youth-Led Toolkit
From their research, our Youth Ambassadors designed a practical, accessible toolkit designed to give employers clear, actionable ways to make their apprenticeship recruitment more inclusive
Every insight is rooted in data, lived experience, and real-life case studies
You can access this exclusive toolkit through the Good Youth Employment Benchmark. You’ll receive your personalised action plan, including the Inclusive Apprenticeship Recruitment toolkit.
“I care deeply about promoting apprenticeships because I know how lifechanging they can be for young people who don’t see university as their path.”
Husna Umarji - Youth Ambassador
TheLinkBetweenFreeSchool MealsandTalentDevelopment
According to figures produced by the UK government, 25.7% of all school students in the UK (just over one in four) are eligible for free school meals this year. In real terms, this accounts for almost 2.2 million children and young people.
Despite the number of free school meal (FSM) recipients growing year on year, there is still a notable attainment gap between students who receive FSM and those who don’t. In this article, explore what the research indicates and ways employers can help to close this gap
Youth Voice Census 2025
According to our 2025 Youth Voice Census report, the UK’s biggest annual survey of young people, overall wellbeing is stagnatingneither collapsing nor thriving Certain groups continue to lag behind, and free school meal recipients are amongst them.
For respondents currently in work, those who received free school meals in secondary school were 7 ppts more likely than their peers to have had their work disrupted by family issues.
Current free school meal recipients were amongst the least likely to access opportunities such as extracurricular activities or volunteering, and were amongst the least supported in accessing work experience and careers education. They were less likely to have university raised as an option and felt less confident about their work readiness.
The Link Between Poverty, Missed Opportunity, and Untapped Talent
Students eligible for free school meals are those from lower-income households, including students whose parents are receiving certain benefits. Poverty and family financial challenges can significantly impact the mental health and overall wellbeing of students, leading their schoolwork to suffer.
Receiving free school meals or being financially disadvantaged still attracts stigma. This can make recipients more susceptible to bullying
Lack of the financial resources needed to access opportunities, from extracurricular activities to support services, can also impact students’ attainment. When it comes to work experience, part-time employment, careers advice, or internships, the families of FSM recipients may be less likely to have the professional connections to help their children access opportunities
What can employers do? Read the full article to discover 4 ways employers can help bridge the gap and identify potential in free school meal recipients
Become a Member today to access the full library of employer resources.
GoodYouthEmployment Benchmark2025
What is the Good Youth Employment Benchmark?
Designed for forward-thinking employers, this original, digital tool reveals how effectively your organisation supports young talent.
With instant data-led insights, it guides strategic improvements that boost early careers outcomes.
Your Benchmark Roadmap
Access your Member Dashboard to get started
Answer 3 focused question sets about your practices
Schedule a deep-dive call with our researcher, Chan Subramanyam MSc
Get your tailored Action Plan report in just 2 - 3 weeks.
“The Benchmark has really helped us to consider what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, is good enough
To get insights and recommendations from the report, has been huge for us this year and will make a huge difference in the activity we drive next year”
Aileen West Emerging Talent & Early Careers Manager
Why Complete the 2025/26 Benchmark?
Discover what’s working in your approach to youth employment - and where to strengthen it
Unlock tailored tools and resources to help you meet your strategic goals.
Compare your results with industry and regional benchmarks for deeper insight
The Good Youth Employment Benchmark Awards
Complete the Benchmark and you’ll be in the running for our annual Good Youth Employment Awards. Award winners are chosen using Benchmark scores, recognising employers who excel in their youth employment practices