Breaking the cycle

08/10/2025 58 min Episodio 569
Breaking the cycle

Listen "Breaking the cycle"

Episode Synopsis

Over 13% of 16-24-year-olds in the UK are now classified as NEET – not in education, employment or training – with a growing number also economically inactive and disengaged from the workforce altogether.This crisis is costing the UK economy billions in lost productivity and social support, while placing young people at greater risk of poor mental health, lifelong unemployment, and social exclusion.What’s driving this troubling trend? From falling apprenticeship opportunities and rising school exclusions to an overstretched mental health system and declining entry-level jobs, the challenges are complex and urgent.A panel of leading voices is coming together at RSA House to unpack the root causes of rising NEET rates and outline what cross-sector collaboration can do to build real opportunity for a generation at risk.SpeakersDr Vikki Smith, Executive Director, Education and Standards at the Education and Training Foundation (ETF)Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 GroupJade Azim, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Good Growth FoundationChairDr Patrina Law, Lifelong Learning Lead at the RSADonate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEaBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueembFollow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYUJoin our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join