Far too many young people are neither earning nor learning and the numbers are rising, having a negative impact on their long-term career prospects and life chances.

The Government’s introduction of a Youth Guarantee in England is a good step in the right direction, but it will need a laser-like focus on delivery and greater investment to improve opportunities. Updating its flagship Youth Opportunity Index, Learning and Work Institute reveals that progress towards the Labour Government’s mission to “break down barriers to opportunity” still depends on where a young person lives. Talent is evenly distributed in our country, but opportunity isn’t. The Youth Guarantee needs to change this.

This Learning and Work Institute webinar explored the findings of our recent research and new data from our Youth Opportunity Index. It focused on how a Youth Guarantee can help the UK to reduce its NEET rate, and support young people to bridge the gap to education and employment. We will hear key insights from Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, one of the Government’s eight Youth Guarantee trailblazer areas. With other contributions from the Youth Futures Foundation and young people, we discussed how a Youth Guarantee can be successfully implemented.

Speakers:

  • Stephen Evans, Chief Executive, L&W
  • Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands
  • Sarah Yong, Director of Policy and External Affairs, Youth Futures Foundation
  • Zoya and Jayden, members of Youth Futures Foundation’s Future Voices Group

17 Mawrth 2026

Beyond the headline: What emerging qualitative insights tell us about supporting young people into work

Iona McArdle, L&W’s JobsPlus Programme Manager, shares some emerging insights from the JobsPlus evaluation on young people’s experiences of being not in education, employment or training (NEET).

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16 Mawrth 2026

Responding to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities for young people

L&W Chief Executive Stephen Evans responds to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities for young people on 16 March 2026.

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26 Chwefror 2026

New innovation trial offers young Londoners with health conditions tailored support to get ‘work ready’

Shaw Trust is funding and designing a new service to help young people with a health condition or disability get ‘work ready.’ The innovation trial will be evaluated by L&W and launched in partnership with the West London Alliance.

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26 Chwefror 2026

Responding to the latest NEET data, February 2026

Learning and Work Institute chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the NEET data released on 26 February 2026.

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17 Chwefror 2026

Labour Market Briefing: February 2026

Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 17 February 2026.

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17 Chwefror 2026

Labour market dashboard

Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.

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17 Chwefror 2026

Labour market stats response, February 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

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20 Ionawr 2026

Labour Market Briefing: January 2026

Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 20 January 2026.

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20 Ionawr 2026

Labour market stats response, January 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

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