With the final report of Milburn Review expected any day, ResearchPlus is running a timely session at the Labour Conference 2026 about the many ways that research-led universities are helping to tackle the NEETs crisis.
Here are some examples:
Understanding what is driving the NEET challenge
Essex’s research dives deep into the risk factors of becoming NEET
The Brunel Book Club
Identifying risks and solutions
Hull’s research on the cost of school exclusions
Working in partnership with local authorities
SOAS Civic Leaders' Academy targeting young Londoners at risk of becoming NEET
Working in partnership with schools and colleges
Targeted outreach delivered by the Humber Outreach Programme (HoP)
OU partnerships and distance learning
Targeting under-achieving boys
Ulster’s long-running initiative to close the gender attainment gap in Northern Ireland
A targeted taste of higher education at SOAS Summer Schools
Raising attainment to keep pathways open
University of Essex Maths and Book Clubs
Moving young people on the margins to the centre
SOAS’s teen-led workshops on migration and marginalisation
Targeting the wellbeing of women NEETs
Sussex’s health programme to bring hope to women
Breaking down the barriers of mental health and substance abuse
Hull’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research
Pathways for young people without traditional qualifications
Keele’s award-winning Foundation Year
A university dedicated to opportunity
Open University approach is driven by creating chances for people whatever background and barriers
Brunel’s ‘academics and overalls’ work placements
Getting NEETs into jobs that fill local labour market gaps
Royal Holloway’s partnerships help NEETs into future-proof careers and address regional skills needs
Fostering enterprise to breed opportunities from opportunity
Brunel’s Entrepreneur Hub
UniCares: Supporting care leavers into higher education and employment
Young people leaving care are among the groups most at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET) through City St George's UniCares programme.
Near-peer mentoring for local teenagers to boost aspiration and opportunity
The Schools Engagement Programme at Bayes Business School, City St George's, University of London pairs trained undergraduate mentors with secondary school pupils aged 15-17 from local London schools.
CityVentures opens entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented young people
City St George's, University of London's CityVentures business support service is helping tackle barriers to opportunity through entrepreneurship.