Blackburn College brings national focus to tackling NEET challenge

Education and civic leaders from across the country gathered at Blackburn College for the UK's first NEET conference.

National and regional leaders from education, local government, youth services and prominent employers came together at the Lancashire college for a symposium on the growing number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Billed as a national summit focused on tackling rising NEET levels, the conference featured workshops, presentations and discussion sessions across the college's Industry Collaboration Zone and its off-campus Launchpad hub in Blackburn town centre.

Delegates heard how Blackburn College's pioneering Launchpad initiative is providing a vital lifeline for young people struggling to gain a foothold in further education, training and employment.

Described by several delegates as a "game changer" and a "blueprint" that could be rolled out across the country, Launchpad has supported more than 250 young people since opening in a former Blackburn town centre department store last September.

With more than a million young people across the UK categorised as NEET, Blackburn College principal and chief executive Dr Fazal Dad said the issue demands a new approach.

He said: "If the system is not working for young people, we must redesign the system, not the young person.

"The recent Milburn Review is clear in its diagnosis. This is not a failure of aspiration among young people; it is a failure of the system that is meant to support them.

"The system is fragmented, split across education, employment services, health and local government, with too little co-ordination and no single point of accountability. It is too rigid, designed around institutions and qualifications rather than the lived experiences, needs and ambitions of young people.

"The diagnosis is national. The solutions must be both national and local. And that is precisely where Launchpad begins."

Recognising rising local NEET numbers, Blackburn College developed its Future Focus initiative, which led to the opening of Launchpad. The dedicated town centre re-engagement hub was created following a £1m investment and delivered in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and Newground Together.

The conference also heard personal testimonies from young people who have been part of Launchpad's first cohort. They spoke of how the support they had received had helped them look towards brighter futures through further education, training and career opportunities that had once seemed beyond their reach.

Guest speakers included former John Lewis Group chief executive Sir Charles Mayfield, who led the government's Keep Britain Working review, and Phil Smith CBE, chairman of the Skills England Board. Both endorsed Blackburn College's approach to tackling the NEET challenge locally while acknowledging that wider national change is also needed.

Phil Smith said: "We have known for some time this challenge was emerging.

"Too many young people across the country are in a troubling situation.

"It is a critical issue to the whole country if you disconnect a significant part of a generation from being economically viable.

"We have to find a way of re-engaging young people, simplifying the system to make accessing it easier.

"We have to understand the context of people who are living in a local environment, looking for local support, jobs and futures.

"Having Launchpad as an example is vital if we are going to make headway both locally and nationally."

Throughout the day, delegates heard from experts in their fields and attended workshops covering emotional, behavioural and psychological barriers, trauma-informed best practice and the impact of blended learning.

Blackburn College's Launchpad senior team – Matthew Robinson, Faz Imran and Katie Tormay – also shared insights into the model they believe could be rolled out nationwide.

Dr Dad added: "Launchpad demonstrates what happens when we align provision to need, collaborate effectively and design systems that are flexible and place-based."