Vocational Progressions Project
Helping young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough secure sustainable employment through apprenticeships
What is the Vocational Progressions Project?
The Vocational Progressions Project supports young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in England who are NEET (not in education, employment, or training), or at risk of becoming NEET, into apprenticeships. The programme is led by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and delivered by EDT.
Across 15 schools in the region, students in Year 12 and 13 who are at risk of becoming NEET take part in group sessions, interview preparation, and assessment centre practice. This helps them develop the skills and confidence needed to successfully secure apprenticeships. The programme also supports NEET young people through online help with CV development and apprenticeship applications.
What does the Vocational Progressions Project aim to achieve?
This innovative programme is part of the UK government’s wider Youth Guarantee, which was established in response to a rising number of young people who are NEET.
The Vocational Progressions Project aims to:
- improve apprenticeship application outcomes
- ensure initial post-Year 13 destinations lead to sustainable, long-term employment
- reduce the number of young people becoming NEET in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The Youth Guarantee aims to ensure every young person in the UK can access education, employment, or training, with apprenticeships recognised as a key pathway into sustainable work. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is one of the eight regions across England selected as Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, which are testing out new approaches to preventing young people from becoming NEET.
EDT's role on the Vocational Progressions Project
As lead provider of the Vocational Progressions Project, we combine nationally recognised expertise in employability and careers education with a locally embedded delivery model. Our team of Level 6 qualified careers advisers is recruited from and based within the region, ensuring that young people receive relevant, contextualised guidance that reflects the local labour market and vocational landscape of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Frequently asked questions
How are schools selected for the project?
EDT and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority have identified 15 schools with higher proportions of pupils at risk of becoming NEET. If you believe your school meets this criteria and would like to find out more, please get in touch.
Partner with EDT on the Vocational Progressions Project
edt works with combined authorities, local authorities, and educational institutions to deliver impactful employability and careers programmes. If you are a commissioner or system leader interested in replicating this model, or a school or organisation looking to refer young people into the Vocational Progressions Project, we’d love to hear from you. Speak to our team to explore how we can work together.