Supporting NEET young people back into education, employment or training

City & Guilds qualifications and planning resources support colleges and training providers to build effective, funded learning pathways for NEET young people and adult learners.

01 April 2026

Nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). 

The latest ONS figures put that number at 957,000, close to a level not seen since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. 

The Government has responded, and the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out a national mission to build a skills pipeline that ensures no learner is left behind, through the Youth Guarantee and investment in education and training, including foundation apprenticeships and a reformed post-16 skills system. City & Guilds welcomes that direction. But for colleges and training providers, the real work starts now with implications for funding policies and expectations for delivery.  

Providers face real pressures: confidence gaps in learners who have been out of education for months or years; employer demand that shifts with the changing needs of the workplace; and a complex funding landscape that can be hard to navigate.

 
900000

Young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, according to ONS figures. 

 

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Getting young people back into education or employment: a blended skills approach

Our technical qualifications are designed to get learners job‑ready, and for many learners, they provide everything needed to move confidently into work across key sectors, whether that’s construction, adult care or hospitality. 

For others – particularly those who may need to rebuild confidence or re‑engage with learning – combining technical skills with core employability skills can strengthen their progression and make the transition into the workplace smoother.

City & Guilds Employability Skills qualifications are designed to work for a diverse range of learners including NEET young people, adult returners and full-time students who need to build workplace confidence. 

These qualifications can be delivered independently, but also work alongside sector-specific training. They complement and strengthen sector-specific programmes by helping learners develop behaviours and competencies that employers say are essential, such as communication, problem-solving, and workplace expectations, and career planning.       


Supporting your curriculum planning: from progression pathways to funding streams

As providers work to re‑engage young people and support them back into training, it’s important to design programmes that are not only impactful for learners and employers, but also aligned with the available funding streams.

To navigate this landscape, at City & Guilds our teams are well‑positioned to help you address practical questions such as: Which funding stream applies to which learner? How do guided learning hours (GLH) shape programme design? And how can short courses be integrated into a coherent, well‑sequenced curriculum?

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As a starting point, we offer Curriculum Planning Guides  designed to support providers to build programmes with confidence, knowing that the qualifications deliver both solid learner outcomes and funding compliance. Each guide brings together sector-specific qualifications, units, and short courses, with employability skills mapped into clear, structured pathways. You’ll find clear information on guided learning hours (GLH), progression routes, and available funding streams including: 

  • 16-19 Study Programmes 
  • Adult Skills Funding (ASF)
  • Adult Learner Loans
  • Free Courses for Jobs
  • Apprenticeship Levy 

Our Curriculum Planning guides are currently available for construction, adult care and hospitality sectors.


Ready to build better pathways for your learners?

Delivering for young people who are NEET isn’t just about meeting funding objectives  , although it does that too. It’s about aligning with the Government’s national mission to ensure all young people have access to high-quality education, training and employment – a core commitment of the Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper . 

It’s a genuine opportunity to widen participation, improve community impact and help employers build a pipeline of motivated, candidates with work ready skills.

 
10%

Of learners secure employment within three months of competing a City & Guilds qualification or apprenticeship.

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Why City & Guilds? Here’s what sets us apart

  • Delivering stronger learner outcomes: 65% of City & Guilds learners are in employment six months after completion, compared to 56% of learners using other providers and other qualifications.
  • Employer -aligned qualifications: Full-time technical qualifications and the UK’s broadest portfolio of short, funded qualifications in the UK, designed with industry to build skills that employers recognise, value and trust.
  • Nearly 150 years of expertise: City & Guilds has been shaping vocational training since 1878. That history means something to employers and to learners who want a qualification that carries genuine weight.
  • Wraparound support: Resources, sector events and expert guidance to help providers plan, deliver, and improve their provision.
  • Digital credentials: Verifiable, shareable badges that celebrate achievement and boost learner visibility with employers to make progress visible where it matters most.

City & Guilds provision covers all major vocational pathways demanded by local employers. And whether you’re building new provision or strengthening what’s already there, we can support you.

Download your Curriculum Planning Guides here

Speak to our teams