LSIS recently funded a large number of further education colleges and other providers to undertake research with young people and adults who are or have recently been out of education, employment or training. NIACE assisted with the delivery and management of the project and analysis of the data returned by providers. The objective was to improve understanding of aspirations, motivations and behaviours in order to inform national and individual provider strategies. By commissioning the research fieldwork from individual providers and other organisations, £1M was released back into the sector and partner agencies that work with these hardest to reach individuals. 

Many commented on the learning they gained by engaging directly in the research process and with the young people and adults who were the subject of the research; furthermore, as providers had to collaborate with other agencies in their locality in order to access relevant interviewees this has brought home to them the need to develop cross agency strategies with their local partners. 

The findings were recently discussed at an LSIS seminar attended by John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education Skills and Lifelong Learning, BIS and by a number of the providers that undertook the original research.  The aims of the seminar were to:

• provide an opportunity for dialogue about emerging policy and developing practice in relation to young people not in education, employment or training;
• learn about research evidence gathered first hand from the sector and consider the implications for practice; and
• consider the implications of the research findings for future policy and for the improvement services offered by LSIS. 

A report on the seminar is available to download.
Understanding NEETs - lessons for policy and practice (PDF, 323 KB)

The presentations from the seminar are also available to download.
 Understanding NEETs - 15 early lessons (PDF, 485 KB)
 Understanding NEETs - Interviews with young people and adults (PDF, 271 KB)
 The cost of NEETS - designing a whole service approach (PDF, 63 KB)