The Challenge
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were NEET (not in education, employment or training) as of June 2026, representing 13% of the population. From April-June 2026, 40% of young people classified as NEET were unemployed. Through our work with Restart Scheme participants within this demographic, we have found that many face significant barriers to employment and experience a lack of confidence, often feeling disconnected from the labour market and uncertain about their future prospects.
Our Solution
Recognising the need for targeted support for this group, we introduced an intensive two-week youth employability programme in Birmingham and Cardiff.
Rather than a traditional classroom-based employability course, the programme focuses on rebuilding confidence and addressing personal barriers. Participants develop teamwork, communication and self-belief through practical activities, group discussions and mindset-focused exercises, delivered in welcoming community settings rather than formal educational environments.
The programme is closely integrated with our Employer Engagement team, ensuring participants can immediately apply their learning to real employment opportunities. During the recent course in Cardiff, participants explored live vacancies, practised screening questions and completed mock pre-screens based on real roles. This direct link between learning and employer engagement helped with increased confidence into real job applications and interviews.
The Impact
- 100% completion rate in Birmingham and Cardiff, despite facing significant personal challenges, including low confidence, family commitments and sleep-related issues.
- 100% of participants reported enjoying the programme and stated that their confidence had improved.
- Participants showed notable growth in confidence, including speaking in front of a group for the first time and becoming more engaged with others.
- The mindset element of the programme had a particularly positive impact, helping participants to reframe how they viewed themselves and their future opportunities.
- High levels of participant satisfaction, with the majority likely to recommend the programme to others.
- Case notes highlighted significant personal development, with many participants visibly “coming out of their shell” and overcoming long-standing barriers to employment.
- Strong outcomes, with 68% of participants either in employment, training or education within 2 months of completion of the programme.
Feedback from participants:
Participant 1: “I feel a lot less lost now when it comes to job searching and how to present myself as a potential employee.”
Participant 2: “I loved the informality of the sessions. It’s not like a school classroom. I’ve realised that I am not alone. Many others are in this boat with me.”
Participant 3: “The tutors are very attentive and always welcome to questions and made us feel comfortable. Everyone was very kind and I was encouraged to take a lot of notes. The smart goals and long to short term goals will definitely help me in the future.”
Responding to participant, labour market needs and the future of this programme
This group faced a range of complex barriers to employment, including gaps in essential employability knowledge, low confidence, and in some cases, health or personal circumstances that affected the types of roles they could realistically apply for. The programme was designed to meet participants at their individual starting points, providing tailored support that addressed their specific needs while aligning closely with employment opportunities identified by Serco’s Employer Engagement team.
Through practical, work-focused learning, participants developed the knowledge, skills and confidence required to progress towards employment. For example, those with limited understanding of workplace pay were supported to interpret payslips and understand financial aspects of employment, while participants lacking confidence in recruitment processes were able to practise screening interviews and interview techniques in a supportive environment. This personalised approach ensured that support was both relevant and targeted, helping participants make meaningful progress towards sustainable employment opportunities within the local labour market.
Looking to the future, this pilot has been a resounding success and will become core delivery for 18–24-year-olds on the Restart Scheme. We are also working with Serco operated leisure centres across the West Midlands to support even more young people into employment, training or education, building on existing partnerships with other local youth groups and councils.
Participant updates less than 2 months after the programme:
Participant 1: has been offered a job at a retail store and starts in October. They found the class really beneficial and the trainer them feel more confident going into the interview.
Participant 2: is working in a waste operative role; they are doing well and started work less than 2 weeks after completing the youth programme.
Participant 3: has successfully secured a part-time role with a retailer and started in September. Their coach credits their change in motivation to find work because of the support given during the programme.
