A new inquiry has been launched by the APPG for Youth Employment as it looks to understand the impact of mental health on young people.

The APPG for Youth Employment is holding its second meeting of its inquiry as it aims to better understand the impact of mental health on young people accessing the labour market and quality work. The 2022 Youth Voice Census revealed that young people now believe their mental health is one of their biggest barriers to employment and Youth Employment UK called the findings a Mental Health Emergency. Other leading organisations including the Resolution Foundation and The Prince’s Trust have cited that mental health is having an impact across the youth labour market and economic inactivity.

For this inquiry the APPG for Youth Employment will explore the following key question – How is mental health affecting young people accessing the labour market and quality work?

Book here to attend the 2nd meeting of this inquiry.

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AGM

The APPG for Youth Employment will hold its Annual General Meeting to elect Officers and a new Chair on the 5th July at 16:00. This meeting is for parliamentary colleagues and members of the House of Lords only and will be a closed meeting.

The meeting will be held in Room R, Portcullis House.

The deadline for registering for the meeting is 12:00 4th July 2022.

To register and for further information please contact joshua@youthemployment.org.uk 

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Final Meeting Of The Inquiry: ‘The Impact Of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability And Labour Market Outcomes’

The APPG has produced recommendations for Government. A Minister from the Department for Education has been invited to receive the report. 

This meeting will take place online; Tuesday 15th March 2022, 9:00. Please register to attend the event here. 

The role of the APPG for Youth Employment is to champion youth employment in all its forms and provide a supportive but challenging response to government policy and investment.

The APPG for Youth Employment has held an inquiry ‘The Impact Of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability And Labour Market Outcomes’. Across two meeting we have discussed the current proposals for post-16 education to establish;

1. who will benefit and  who could be left behind,
2. whether the proposals will support the needs of young people and employers in the future economy,
3. the long and short term impacts on the youth labour market,

You can out more in this inquiry information document. Minutes and recordings of previous sessions in this inquiry can be found by scrolling down this page.

This inquiry received 15 written submissions, including from the Association of Colleges, the National Foundation for Educational Research, Youth Employment UK, UCAS and The Prince’s Trust.

The APPG for Youth Employment has written a report with a set of recommendations for the Government and we have invited a Minister form the Department for Education to receive a copy of the report. 

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Second Meeting Of The Inquiry: ‘The Impact Of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability And Labour Market Outcomes’

On 23rd November 2021, the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) for Youth Employment held the second meeting regarding the latest inquiry into ‘The Impact of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability and Labour Market Outcomes’ which is running from October 2021 to January 2022.

Please scroll down to read the summary from the first meeting. This inquiry explores the Government proposals to defund most vocational qualifications; the role T Levels, A Levels and Apprenticeships will play in post-16 education, training and employment; and the implications this will have on youth labour market outcomes and the future skills needs of the UK economy.

In the second meeting, Noni Csogor – Research and Policy Manager at Sixth Form Colleges Association – gave a further update to Government proposals for post-16 education, mainly the delay in defunding by one year and the removal of English and maths as an exit requirement.

We heard evidence from Martin McLean, Senior Policy Adviser at the National Deaf Children’s Society, who highlighted the challenges that deaf and disabled young people currently face in the education system.

Youth Employment UK Ambassador Ella discussed her experience of undertaking a Level 3 course in Childcare Development. Whilst she appreciated the benefits undertaking a vocational course, she had to retake maths which was difficult for her.

The APPG then heard from panellists:

• Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of the Learning and Work institute,
• Catherine Sezen, Senior Policy Manager at the Association of Colleges,
• Tom Richmond, Director of EDSK,
• Tom Bewick, Chief Executive of the Federation of Awarding Bodies.

You can access recording and minutes from the seconding meeting using these links. The APPG for Youth Employment will now take a short break to collate evidence and write a report to be presented to a Minister from the Department for Education.

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First meeting of Inquiry: ‘The Impact Of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability and Labour Market Outcomes’

The APPG for Youth Employment have opened their inquiry ‘The Impact Of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability and Labour Market Outcomes’. The inquiry explores the Government proposals to defund most vocational qualifications; the role T Levels, A Levels and Apprenticeships will play in post-16 education, training and employment; and the implications this will have on youth labour market outcomes and the future skills needs of the UK economy.  You can access the Inquiry information, Attendee brief, recording and Minutes from the first meeting using these links. 

In this meeting, Noni Csogor – Research and Policy Manager at Sixth Form Colleges Association – outlined the Government proposals for post-16 education, shared the concerns of the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign and shared the impact of vocational qualifications (including BTECs) on the labour market. Charlie Deane – Principal and Chief Executive of Bury College – offered the perspective of a Further Education College, stating the proposals do not seem to understand young people and their complexities, the problems in how we measure the success of a qualification and an example of challenges in delivering T Levels at Bury College. Finally we heard from Euan – Youth Ambassador at Youth Employment UK – who shared his experience of post-16 education and his choice to take a vocational qualification and move onto an degree apprenticeship.

The next meeting will take place online on 23rd November, 9:30-11:00. Our guest speakers are Lord Baker and Simon Connell – Chief Executive of Baker Dearing Educational Trust, Martin McLean – Senior Policy Advisor at National Deaf Children’s Society, a Youth Friendly Employer and a Youth Ambassador. We will also hold a panel session with Stephen Evans – Chief Executive of the Learning and Work Institute, Teresa Frith – Senior Skills Policy Manager at the Association of Colleges, and Tom Richmond – Founder and Director of EDSK. In this meeting we continue the debate of Government proposals to defund most vocational course, the role of T Levels and the skills needs of young people, employers and the future UK economy.

Please register for the next meeting.

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APPG for Youth Employment Launches Latest Inquiry: ‘The Impact Of Vocational Qualifications On Young People’s Employability and Labour Market Outcomes’

We are delighted to inform you that we have launched our latest inquiry into vocational education and the labour market.

Meeting Dates

Register for the first two meetings using the links below:

26th October 2021, 9:30-11:00

23rd November 2021, 9:30-11:00

January 2022 (TBC) – A Minister will be invited to give evidence and receive the report. 

Inquiry Information

Following a series of consultations, the Department for Education has proposed the streamlining of post-16 qualifications by removing funding for some vocational and technical qualifications, including BTECs. T Levels, Apprenticeships and A Levels will be the main options for post-16 qualifications. 

This inquiry seeks to understand how the removal of funding for some vocational qualifications, including BTECs, will impact the choices available to young people and what that will mean for their employment prospects and outcomes.

The APPG for Youth Employment will bring together experts across the education, training and employment space, young people and employers to explore the impacts on the choices available to young people and how this may impact the labour market. The inquiry will also be open to written evidence.

Inquiry Questions

1. What impact will the removal of funding for some post-16 vocational qualifications have?
   1. Which students will benefit from the changes? 
   2. Are there groups that you anticipate being left out/left behind? 
   3. Is there enough planned provision to support Level 1 and Level 2 learners?
   4. Are there any fiscal implications of the impacts you anticipate?
   5. Will employers be impacted? (for example; additional costs, hiring implications or skill gaps).
   6. Can the existing provisions for careers information, advice and guidance (CIAG) support the proposed changes?
2. Will the government’s proposed ambition for T-Levels, Apprenticeships and A Levels post-16 support the needs of young people in the future economy?
3. Will the government’s proposed ambition for T-Levels, Apprenticeships and A Levels post-16 support the needs of employers in the future economy?
4. What are the likely impacts on youth employment should these proposed changes take place?
   1. Are there specific short term implications?
   2. What are the long-term implications?

More information can be found here. Submissions should be emailed to josh@youthemployment.org.uk by the 3rd December 2021, no later than 5:00pm.

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Joint APPG for Youth Employment & Youth Employment Group Meeting : Levelling up for youth employment

Date: 20th July 

Time: 9am – 10:30

The APPG for Youth Employment is delighted to be hosting this joint meeting with the Youth Employment Group to explore what levelling up really means for young people.

The Youth Employment Group is a specialist coalition of more than 200 expert organisations set up and co-chaired by : Institute of Employment Studies, Impetus,  Prince’s Trust, Youth Employment UK and the Youth Futures Foundation. The Youth Employment Group was established in March 2020 as a direct response to the impact Covid-19 would have on youth employment, since its inception it has developed a number of papers and recommendations to support government policy thinking particularly in regard to young people most disadvantaged in the labour market. The Group now has more than 200 members and has just released its latest pater – Levelling up for young people: building an Opportunity Guarantee.

The APPG for Youth Employment is an all-party-parliamentary group focused on the issue of youth employment. Established in 2015 the Group exists to promote youth employment in all its forms and the role of young people in the economy. In January 2021 the APPG launched its latest report – making youth employment policy work, which focused on the implementation of the #PlanforJobs.

In this joint session the APPG for Youth Employment and the Youth Employment Group will discuss the Levelling up for young people paper through a panel discussion and then delegates will be invited into breakout sessions to discuss specific points within the paper:

• September Guarantee
• Investing for the future
• Delivering for young people

The meeting is by invitation only to members of the APPG for Youth Employment and the Youth Employment Group, along with government officials and MP’s.

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AGM for the APPG for Youth Employment

The APPG for Youth Employment will hold its Annual General Meeting to elect Officers and complete the necessary papers and process on the 20th July at 9am.

This meeting will take place on Zoom – for further information please contact josh@youthemployment.org.uk

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Final meeting of Inquiry ‘Making Youth Employment Policy Work

Young people have been the hardest hit cohort in the labour market during the Covid-19 crisis; they are more likely to be employed in sectors that have been shut down, their education has been unstable and vacancies are still historically low. The 16-24 year old employment rate is falling, whilst the unemployment rate and claimant count continues to rise. Lessons learned from the 2008 economic crisis informs us that the true extent will not be revealed for some years, with the number of those not in employment, education or training (NEET) peaking in 2011-2012.

Following two meetings of oral evidence and eight submissions of written evidence, the APPG for Youth Employment has produced a report that assesses the Plan for Jobs; what has been done well, what could be improved and where the gaps and tensions are that may allow the most disadvantaged and vulnerable to fall through the gaps.

A Minister from the Department for Work and Pensions has been invited to receive a copy of this report and its recommendations.

Follow this link to register for your tickets.

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Second meeting of Inquiry ‘Making Youth Employment Policy Work

Youth labour market statistics are worsening each month as the true socio-economic fall out of Covid-19 is reflected in the data released by the ONS. Following the Governments Plan for Jobs announcement in the summer, this inquiry seeks to provide constructive feedback to the Government, highlighting gaps and tensions in the system and providing solution on the evidence of ‘what works’.

This inquiry seeks to provide Government with constructive feedback on the spending announced in the Plan for Jobs, specifically the £3bn invested in existing and new programmes and schemes aimed at young people. The aim is to highlight any gaps in the plan and accelerate its impact to reach young people across the UK. You can access the full inquiry information, Attendee Brief, and Minutes from the second meeting using the links.

Our second meeting of the inquiry began with a brief overview of the latest labour market statistics, with the headline figure of a 4.5% unemployment rate and 60% of those who have fallen out of employment since the beginning of the pandemic have been aged 16-24. This follows last months call from the Youth Employment Group (YEG) to create an additional #1000opporuntites everyday.

Our first guest speaker, Anna Smee (CEO of Youth Futures Foundation and Co-chair to the YEG) provided an overview of the Plan for Jobs and Government spending directed toward the rising youth unemployment problem, and where challenges may arise.  Tudor Price (Deputy Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce) gave an insight into the feelings and thoughts of the business community -the challenges they are facing, but also the opportunities too, and thoughts around the Plan for Jobs.

The APPG will now break from meeting whilst a report on this inquiry is written. This will be presented to a Minister in the final meeting of this inquiry in December (date TBC).

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First meeting of Inquiry ‘Making Youth Employment Policy Work 

The APPG for Youth Employment have opened their inquiry ‘Making Youth Employment Policy Work’. The inquiry seeks to understand Government spending announced in the Plan for Jobs, specifically the £3bn invested in existing and new programmes and schemes aimed at young people. You can access the full inquiry information, Attendee Brief and Minutes from the first meeting using the links.

In the previous meeting Tony Wilson, Director of the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) explored the latest labour market statistics, the impact of Covid-19 young people and the labour market, and the challenges and opportunities faced by young people in terms of the employment, education and training. We also had Sam Windett, Director of Policy at Impetus and Youth Employment Group (YEG) Chair explained Impetus’ Youth Gap data and the recommendations put to Government by the YEG, before announcing the #1000opportunities.

The next meeting will take place on 19th October, 14:00-15:00. Our guest speakers are Anna Smee, CEO of Youth Futures Foundation and Tudor Price, Deputy Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. In this meeting we will discuss the Plan for Jobs; its potential, the opportunities and challenges that may be faced and any gaps or tensions in the system. 

Please register for the meeting.

Attendee Briefing 19/10/2020

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New Inquiry: ‘Making Youth Employment Policy Work’

Given the current uncertainties around Covid-19, the APPG for Youth Employment is launching a new inquiry ‘Making youth employment policy work’. The meetings will take place online and there is an opportunity for organisations to submit written evidence.

Before the Covid-19 crisis began there were approximately 750,000 young people not in employment, education or training (NEET). The Resolution Foundation, the Institute for Employment Studies and the Learning and Work institute have predicted there will be at least 600,000 more unemployed young people, with a further 500,000 expected to become NEET over the next 18 months. 

Following the £3.06bn government investment into new and existing youth employment initiatives in the summer, is there any sign of tensions in the systems and areas where young people can fall through the gaps? 

In this inquiry we will explore the key youth employment programmes and investment to see what the early indicators of success are; it will aim to provide constructive feedback to the government to accelerate impact or suggest improvements that need to be made. It will also look if there are tensions in the system, particularly for young people with additional barriers and needs who might otherwise fall through the gaps.

Inquiry Questions

1. Are the summers announcements #PlanForJobs ambitious enough to address the youth unemployment challenge?
2. Are their gaps and tensions that may cause a rise in further inequalities amongst groups of young people such as those furthest from the labour market?
3. What more needs to be done to accelerate impact and ensure no young person is left behind?

The first two meetings of the inquiry will be taking place online on 21st September and 19th October 2020, 14:00-15:00. You can now register to attend the meetings.

There will be a final meeting in December (TBC) whereby a Minister will be invited to give evidence and receive a copy of the Inquiry Report. Please read our guidelines before submitting any evidence.

Submit inquiry responses to info@youthemployment.org.uk

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Youth Employment Webinar

This is a joint event between the APPGs for Skills & Employment and Youth Employment in partnership with the Youth Employment Group. In this meeting expert speakers will discuss the impact of Covid-19 on youth unemployment.

The newly formed Youth Employment Group which represents more than 100 organisations and has been working closely with the government to inform and support key policy development. At this meeting representatives of the Group will share their research, insights and policy recommendations.

Key contributors

Chairs: Barry Sheerman MP & James Daly MP

Panellists: Sam Windett, Impetus/ Youth Employment Group, Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive, City & Guilds, Ciara O’Donnell Youth Employment UK Young Ambassador.

Mims Davies MP, Minister for Employment (Invited)

Seema Malhotra MP, Shadow Minister for Employment

Cllr Bob Sleigh OBE, Deputy Mayor, WMCA

Cllr Sean Fielding, Employment, Skills and Digital, GMCA

Agenda

10:30 Welcome from co-chairs Barry Sheerman MP and James Daly MP

10:40  Opening comments from Presenters

10:55  Responses from Politicians

11:25  Follow-up and questions from audience

11:55  Summary of next steps and thanks

Please note, places are limited and we request that colleagues only book one place for their organisation. Bookings can be made through this link

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Inaugural Meeting

We will be hosting our inaugural meeting virtually to elect the Chair and officers for the APPG for Youth Employment. The meeting will take place on the 17th June at 14:00. This meeting is only open to Members of Parliament and the House of Lords who wish to support the APPG in the coming year. For more information please email  ljr@youthemployment.org.uk or LiamJames.Dean@Parliament.uk

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Postponed AGM for the APPG for Youth Employment

Due to the recent appointment of APPG for Youth Employment Chair Michael Tomlinson MP to Tory Party Whip this AGM and futures meetings have currently been postponed.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael for all of his hard work and commitment to the APPG for Youth Employment and wish him every success in the future.

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Inquiry – Youth Employment priorities for the new Parliament

2nd March – Evidence Session

3:15pm – 4pm, Committee Room 17

Hear from Anna Smee, CEO of Youth Futures Foundation

July 16th – Youth Employment Gaps

Hear from Impetus PEF as they share findings from recent research looking at the employment gaps between disadvantaged young people and their better off peers.

To attend any of the APPG Meetings please visit the Youth Employment UK Events Page to book your place, limited to two per organisation (we encourage organisations to invite a young guest from their network).

June 17th – #YouthFriendlyMP (not open to general public)

MP’s are invited to attend a drop-in session and collect a resource pack tailored to their constituency packed with useful and practical information to support youth employment in their communities.

May 20th – 2019 Youth Voice Census 

At this meeting young people from the Youth Employment UK and WorldSkills UK network will present the findings of the 2019 Youth Voice Census.

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Due to additional security in Westminster delegates attending must be registered for each event in advance and present a pass to security at Westminster Hall. Please use the meeting links to book on to each meeting.

Please note that places are limited at the APPG for Youth Employment meetings and priority places are given to members of Youth Employment UK.

You will need to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of the session to clear through secuirty.

Please keep an eye on social media throughout the day of the APPG for notice of any last minute room changes, The Houses of Parliament reserve all rights to make last minute changes and even cancellations. Follow @YEUK2012 for information.

www.youthemployment.org.uk

info@youthemployment.org.uk