Teenagers back vocational reforms, and echo what our research has shown for years

The Department for Education (DfE) has today published new research showing that young people are increasingly rejecting outdated stereotypes about vocational education and are actively seeking high‑quality technical routes into future‑proofed careers.

09 October 2026

Their findings reveal that young learners want relevant pathways they can trust, connected to real labour‑market opportunities.

At City & Guilds, we strongly welcome this direction of travel. The voices of young people in the DfE’s research echo what we have been hearing consistently through our own work, including our recent research report Counting the Cost: The UK’s Employability Skills Crisis, which highlights the urgent need for clearer technical pathways that genuinely support progression into work.

Young people want vocational routes that lead somewhere, and the system must respond

The DfE’s research shows that teenagers increasingly view vocational and technical education as a credible, aspirational choice. They want routes that build real skills, offer meaningful employer engagement, and open doors to stable, well‑paid careers.

This aligns closely with the findings of our Counting the Cost report, which revealed that too many young people still struggle to access structured pathways into employment, despite being motivated and ambitious. Our analysis shows that:

  • Young people value practical, career‑focused learning, especially when it is clearly linked to local labour market needs.
  • A lack of high‑quality entry‑level opportunities and inconsistent progression routes continues to hold many back.
  • Employability skills including communication, problem‑solving, teamwork and adaptability, are increasingly essential for navigating a fast‑changing economy.

The DfE’s research reinforces this picture: young people are ready for vocational reform. They want choice, clarity and routes that feel meaningful.

Reform is moving in the right direction, but delivery is what will matter

We welcome the government’s commitment to modernising post‑16 pathways, including the introduction of V Levels and the broader reform of technical and vocational qualifications. These changes have the potential to create a more balanced system, one that recognises different talents, and offers genuine parity of esteem between academic and vocational routes.

But as we have consistently said across our recent commentary on post‑16 reform, success will depend on:

  • Quality in qualification design
  • Clear progression routes with no dead ends
  • Strong employer involvement
  • Wraparound support that helps young people build confidence, networks and experience

Our Counting the Cost report makes clear that young people need more than qualifications alone. They need structured pathways, trusted guidance, and opportunities to develop the skills that employers value most.

City & Guilds stands ready to support the next phase of reform

We are committed to working with government, providers, employers and Skills England to ensure the new vocational landscape delivers for learners. As the system evolves from the rollout of V Levels to new level 2 pathways and the expansion of technical options at 14 our focus remains the same:

  • Championing high‑quality vocational and technical education
  • Supporting providers to deliver new pathways with confidence
  • Ensuring learners can access routes that reflect real labour‑market demand
  • Building the employability skills that underpin long‑term employability

Young people are telling us what they want: vocational routes that are respected and connected to real careers. The DfE’s research confirms that the appetite for change is strong, and City & Guilds will continue to play a leading role in shaping a system that meets those expectations.