We were right to be ambitious about reducing NEETs
Following the Chancellor’s budget speech today, which talked about equipping young people with the skills they need, Cllr Brett O’Reilly, cabinet member for jobs and skills, points to the work the local authority is doing to help young people, particularly NEETs.
“Skills level in the city region will have a major impact not just on future economic growth but on ensuring we pursue inclusive growth that reaches out to all citizens in all parts of our city, leaving nobody behind. This is why the city council has developed its ‘Step Forward: Upskilling for Life’ strategy. Working in partnership with the public, private and third sectors, we will be campaigning directly with employers to encourage upskilling of the workforce, co-ordinating support and guidance so people can choose the right qualifications for the career path they want to take.
“We are the highest performing core city when it comes to reducing the number of NEETs (people not in employment, education or training) – and this despite making our target even higher by reducing the figure by a further one percent. People told us we couldn’t do it, that we were being too ambitious; well, we have to be ambitious because that is how we help our most vulnerable, and how we improve the skills and chances of people in this city. There has been a downward trend in NEETs since 2014 and we will bring it down even further – to 4.3 per cent this year, making Birmingham the top performing city on NEETs.”
Ends
