DiscoverRSA EventsBreaking the cycle
Breaking the cycle

Breaking the cycle

Update: 2025-10-08
Share

Description

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.

Speakers

  • Dr Vikki Smith, Executive Director, Education and Standards at the Education and Training Foundation (ETF)
  • Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group
  • Jade Azim, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Good Growth Foundation

Chair

  • Dr Patrina Law, Lifelong Learning Lead at the RSA

Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa

Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb

Follow 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/35EyQYU

Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join


 

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Breaking the cycle

Breaking the cycle

Dr Vikki Smith, Mo Isap, Jade Azim, Dr Patrina Law