{"id":896180,"date":"2026-04-02T03:12:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T08:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/02\/how-the-uks-neet-youth-can-power-the-digital-economy\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:12:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T08:12:14","slug":"how-the-uks-neet-youth-can-power-the-digital-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/02\/how-the-uks-neet-youth-can-power-the-digital-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"How the UK\u2019s \u2018Neet\u2019 youth can power the digital economy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>One in eight people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (Neet). For the UK technology sector, facing skill shortages in AI, software engineering, and cybersecurity, they are a vital untapped pool of talent.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\tSamuel Baleera<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>01 Apr 2026 12:04<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>Nearly one in eight young people in the UK aged 16 to 24, almost one million individuals, are not in education, employment, or training (Neet). For many, ambition alone isn\u2019t enough. Opportunities often depend on who you know, not what you can do. This gap isn\u2019t just a social challenge; it is a missed economic opportunity, especially for the UK\u2019s growing digital economy.<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"From Croydon to coding: Angel\u2019s journey\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>From Croydon to coding: Angel\u2019s journey<\/h2>\n<p>Angel, from Croydon, knows this reality all too well. Growing up in a single-parent household and balancing school with caring responsibilities, she wasn\u2019t sure a career in technology was possible. \u201cI didn\u2019t even know people like me could work in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/whatis\/definition\/software-engineering\">software engineering<\/a>,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI thought jobs like that were only for people with connections or the right background. I wasn\u2019t sure I would ever fit in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That changed when Angel joined a mentorship and work experience program designed to support young people facing social mobility barriers. Through structured workshops, insight days at major firms like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366628267\/Interview-Kirsty-Roth-chief-operations-and-technology-officer-Thomson-Reuters\">Thomson Reuters<\/a>, and a paid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366639497\/Atos-IT-services-staff-of-the-future-begin-apprenticeships\">apprenticeship<\/a>, she gained hands-on experience and built professional networks. \u201cMeeting mentors who believed in me and showing me what was possible completely changed my outlook,\u201d she says. \u201cI went from thinking I had no options to seeing a whole world of opportunities I didn\u2019t know existed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today, Angel is pursuing a full-time Software Engineering Apprenticeship, earning while she learns, and building a future she once thought was out of reach. \u201cI still remember my first day in the office,\u201d she says. \u201cI felt nervous, but also excited. For the first time, I felt like I belonged in a professional space, like I could really do this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Angel\u2019s story illustrates a larger trend. Mentorship and early industry exposure can be a game-changer. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/...\/may2025\">Data from a 2025 alumni survey by Urban Synergy,<\/a> a youth empowerment and social mobility charity, shows that young people who participate in structured mentoring and work experience are twice as likely to reach full-time employment. Even more striking, just 5 percent are NEET, less than half the national average.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Why tech needs social mobility\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Why tech needs social mobility<\/h2>\n<p>For the UK technology sector, which faces chronic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/feature\/Looming-retirements-and-the-skills-shortage\">skills shortages<\/a> in AI, software engineering, and cybersecurity, these figures are more than social statistics. They highlight a vast, untapped talent pipeline. Traditional recruitment often favours candidates with existing professional networks, leaving high-potential individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds overlooked. Programs like these break that pattern and create a more resilient, committed workforce.<\/p>\n<p>The impact goes beyond employment. Among alumni, 36 percent come from families where neither parent attended university, over a third were eligible for free school meals, and a quarter grew up in single-parent households. Many reported increased confidence, new skills, and broader professional networks. Crucially, those who received long-term <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchhrsoftware\/feature\/How-to-start-an-inclusive-mentoring-program\">mentoring<\/a> were significantly more likely to maintain stable employment and financial independence, helping lift families and strengthen communities.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Hands-on stem experiences open doors\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Hands-on stem experiences open doors<\/h2>\n<p>Industry-led initiatives also help demystify technical careers. Programs like Copilot AI workshops at the London Stock Exchange Group give young people hands-on experience with emerging technologies, showing that roles in science technology engineering and mathematics (Stem) are accessible and achievable. By moving beyond classroom learning to real-world exposure, these programs help spark interest in tech careers before talent is lost to disengagement.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the most telling sign of long-term impact is the culture of giving back. Eighty-nine percent of alumni want to return as mentors, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that strengthens both the workforce and society. Angel plans to be part of that. \u201cI want to show other young people like me that it is possible,\u201d she says. \u201cIf I can do it, anyone can. I want to give back because someone believed in me first.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Building a future-ready workforce at scale\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Building a future-ready workforce at scale<\/h2>\n<p>Scaling these models is now crucial. <a href=\"https:\/\/urbansynergy.com\/\">Urban Synergy<\/a> aims to support 50,000 young people by 2027, but wider integration between the third sector and corporate IT departments is essential to maximize impact. If the UK is to maintain its position as a global tech leader, it must look beyond traditional talent pools. Investing in mentorship and removing invisible barriers to entry is no longer optional; it is a strategic necessity.<\/p>\n<p>Angel\u2019s journey from uncertainty to opportunity is a blueprint for what is possible when guidance, exposure, and belief meet ambition. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be here,\u201d she says. \u201cNow I\u2019m not just building a career; I\u2019m building confidence, independence, and hope for the future.\u201d By unlocking the potential of NEET youth, the UK can create a more diverse, skilled, and future-ready workforce, proving that social mobility isn\u2019t just a moral imperative; it is an economic one.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on IT education and training<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366634354\/Inside-HPs-plan-to-build-the-Middle-Easts-next-generation-of-tech-creators\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/teens-using-smartphones-social-Xavier-Lorenzo-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/teens-using-smartphones-social-Xavier-Lorenzo-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/teens-using-smartphones-social-Xavier-Lorenzo-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Inside HP\u2019s plan to build the Middle East\u2019s next generation of tech creators<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Andrea-Benito-Arauzo-140x180.jpg\" alt=\"AndreaBenito \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Andrea\u00a0Benito <\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/microscope\/feature\/Making-the-channel-appeal-to-women\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/women-diversity-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/women-diversity-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/women-diversity-adobe.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Making the channel appeal to women<\/h5>\n<p><span>By: <span>Billy\u00a0MacInnes<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366613114\/UK-Cyber-Team-seeks-future-security-pros\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/code-programming-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/code-programming-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/code-programming-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>UK Cyber Team seeks future security professionals<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Alex-Scroxton-CW-Contributor-2022.jpg\" alt=\"AlexScroxton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Alex\u00a0Scroxton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchcio\/definition\/startup-accelerator\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/digdeeper\/4.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/digdeeper\/4_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/digdeeper\/4.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>What is a startup accelerator?<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/hanna_katie.png\" alt=\"KatieTerrell Hanna \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Katie\u00a0Terrell Hanna <\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366641132\/How-the-UKs-Neet-youth-can-power-the-digital-economy\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Alejandro Grisby<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One in eight people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (Neet). For the UK technology sector, facing skill shortages in AI, software engineering, and cybersecurity, they are a vital untapped pool of talent. By Samuel Baleera Published: 01 Apr 2026 12:04 Nearly one in eight young people in the UK aged<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":896181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[132754,46,36888],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-896180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-neet","category-technology","category-uks"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/896181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=896180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=896180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}