Youth career readiness
Helping young people build the skills, confidence, and experiences they need for life beyond education.
We need to prepare young people for a changing world of work.
New technologies, evolving workforce needs, and economic uncertainty are reshaping the skills and experiences needed to succeed.
Yet too many young people leave education without the knowledge, experience, or support needed to take their next step. Those facing disadvantage often encounter additional barriers, making successful transitions into learning and work less likely. Meeting this challenge requires stronger links between education, skills, employment, and industry.
Our vision
Every young person should be able to see a clear route into their future. We believe that where a young person starts should not determine where they can go.
All young people should have access to the guidance, experiences, skills, and support they need to make informed decisions about their next steps and navigate a changing world of work with confidence.
Youth career readiness is about prevention and preparation:
- helping young people stay engaged in education
- building aspirations, skills, and confidence
- career guidance and exposure to the workplace
- preparing young people for successful transitions
- reducing the risk of becoming NEET.
How we add value
We help young people see what’s possible and develop the skills, experiences, and connections needed to achieve a successful future. We do that by:
- embedding career readiness within education systems and learning pathways
- connecting young people with employers and the world of work
- developing career management, employability, and future-ready skills
- creating meaningful workplace experiences that broaden aspirations and inform choices
- strengthening careers education and guidance for young people at key transition points
- using labour market insight and evidence to ensure learning reflects future opportunities.
Our work focuses on helping young people understand and access future opportunities.
In England, we work with schools, colleges, employers, and local partners to strengthen careers education and improve young people’s understanding of the routes available to them. Through our Inspiring Careers Programme, we have supported more than 230 schools, reaching around 24,000 pupils and almost 600 teachers, with 98% of participating schools saying they would recommend the service.
West Yorkshire
We work with local and regional partners to reduce youth disengagement and increase participation. In West Yorkshire, our Future Forward programme combined personalised support for young people with wider work to strengthen local approaches to NEET prevention.
London
Alongside direct delivery, we help build stronger careers ecosystems. Through the West London Careers Hub, we bring together schools, colleges, employers, and local leaders to improve careers provision and widen access to high-quality careers support across the region.
Ethiopia
At a system level, we support governments and development partners to strengthen employability and career readiness. In Ethiopia, we’re helping to support education systems and individuals to recruit and develop Careers and Technical Education (CTE) teachers, in-service teachers, school leaders, and education officers as part of a consortium to deliver the Leaders in Teaching Ethiopia programme.
SPOTLIGHT
Strengthening pathways from education into employment across West London
West London Careers Hub brings together schools, colleges, employers, and local leaders to improve careers education and strengthen young people’s transitions into employment. Through employer engagement, work-related learning, and better access to vocational and technical pathways, the hub helps young people build confidence in their futures and reduces the risk of becoming disconnected from learning or work.
Our work in youth career readiness
Inspiring Careers Programme
West London Careers Hub
Connect to Work Sunderland
Vocational Progressions Project
Lifelong Learners
RISE Rwanda
Leaders in Teaching Ethiopia
Connect to Work Newcastle
How Future Forward supported young people in West Yorkshire onto pathways to employment
Latest insights and research
GCSE and BTEC Level 2 results matter for young people – but so do pathways that connect them to real opportunity
EDT responds to the UK government’s schools white paper
UK government extends Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme, but are young people being left behind?
Future Forward: supporting young people in West Yorkshire to thrive in the world of work
From school to life: reimagining transitions for a changing world
The Youth Guarantee: how will an entitlement to two weeks’ work experience for young people be achieved?
From foundational learning to future readiness: a call to action to tackle the youth crisis in Africa
Transitions from primary to secondary school and onwards into higher education and work: girls’ expectations and experiences in Kenya
The future direction for careers in England: maximising opportunities for personalised guidance within school and beyond
Engaging children and parents in career development enriched by employer engagement in Jordan
Entry and retention in the labour market: narratives and solutions for NEET and care leaver employment support
Youth transitions: creating pathways to success
Tony McAleavy
Chief Education & Skills Officer
Let's work together
Whether you want to help young people prepare for work, reduce the risk of youth NEET, or expand vocational pathways, we'd welcome a conversation.
Speak to our specialist
Tony oversees educational impact and research across our work. With more than 45 years’ experience, he champions evidence-based approaches that help young people develop the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to succeed.