Over 200 young people in Nottingham who are not currently in education, employment or training (NEET) will receive face-to-face careers support and guidance on their doorstep next week (week of 20 Feb).
This is a joint exercise between Futures Advice, Skills and Employment and Nottingham City Council to fulfil the council’s pledge of guaranteeing a job, training, or further education place for every 18 to 25-year-old in the city.
‘Opportunity Knocks’ (the name of the initiative) will see specialist careers advisers from Futures Advice visiting the homes of 16-18 year olds who are NEET across the city. This will help better understand what’s preventing them from being in education or training while providing a chance to offer support and advice about how to overcome any barriers and hurdles that they may face progressing into further education.
Futures Advice has the remit to help keep Nottingham’s NEET and Not Known (those whose job and learning outcomes are unknown) levels low. To achieve this, advisers work with young people who are at most risk of becoming NEET, and their families, to help keep them motivated and focused on ensuring they progress into further training or education. As a result, Nottingham boasts some of the lowest NEET and Not Known rates of any of England’s major cities. However, it is estimated that there are currently 273 16-18 year-olds who are currently NEET in Nottingham.
Thanks to funding from Nottingham City Council, the European Social Fund and the Youth Engagement Initiative, there is also support for up to 2800 marginalised and disadvantaged 16-29 year-olds in Nottingham who are at risk of social exclusion because they have no work or any prospect of getting a job. This includes programmes to help improve basic skills as well as giving young people the opportunity to get experience of the workplace by encouraging employers to take on apprentices and trainees.
Nottingham continues to have low NEET levels amongst all 16-18 year olds and at 5.6 per cent it is significantly below the national England average of 7.1 per cent. Also very encouraging is the number of ‘Not Knowns’ of whom there are only 60 in the city (1.2%).
Amanda Payne, Futures’ Operations Manager (Young Peoples services), says: “Building on the good work that we do in communities across the city, our advisers will knock on the doors of those people we know who are still struggling to get into work or training. A conversation in person with them could be very beneficial and it might be the trigger for them to take advantage of the support that’s on offer across the city.”
Cllr Sam Webster, Nottingham City Council’s, portfolio holder for Education, Employment and Skills, says: “I’m very proud of the results we’ve achieved in keeping NEET and Not Known levels down in the city. We have gone above and beyond our statutory duty to support some of the most vulnerable young people, and their families, to ensure that none are left behind. We want to give all young people hope for the future and an opportunity to progress into further training and education. A simple conversation with some of those people with whom we are not currently engaging could make a significant difference to their job prospects.”
Careers advisers, and an information trailer, will be in communities across the city on the following dates (9:30am – 4.30am):
- Monday 20 February: Aspley central shopping area
- Tuesday 21 February: Bulwell Market
- Wednesday 22 February: St Ann’s “The Chase” car park
- Thursday 23 February: Hyson Green market
- Friday 24 February: Clifton Market, Southchurch Drive