Imagine finishing school with no clear path ahead - no job, no further education and no idea where to turn next. Sadly, this is the reality for nearly a million young people in the UK today.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), almost one million 16-24-year-olds were ‘not in education, employment or training’ between October and December 2024. These so-called NEETs now make up almost 1 in 7 people in this age range and worryingly, the numbers are rising.
We believe there are three root causes of the growing crisis facing Gen Z - lingering effects of the Pandemic, gaps in the education system and career guidance that fails to keep pace with a rapidly changing job market.
The Root Causes
Millions of young people had their education and indeed their personal lives turned upside down by Covid. Missed lessons, a lack of normal socialising and a forced dependency on messaging apps and social media have all contributed widespread mental health challenges which are now surfacing.
Then there are the gaps in the National Curriculum. Despite the fact that there is a thriving self-employment sector in the UK, there is little education geared specifically towards small business and entrepreneurship. Worse still, many young people leave school with poor levels of financial literacy, making it hard for them to thrive in a world driven by credit and spending.
The third challenge is around career uncertainty. With AI reshaping industries and an intensification of global competition, many young people are unsure about which careers to pursue, simply because they feel their chosen field may no longer exist in the next five to ten years.
NextGen Elevate: A New Path
Despite the vast challenges, one of the most powerful solutions is self-employment. At PBC, we are passionate about empowering young people with the skills and knowledge they need to take control of their futures.
As a business support organisation based inside a college of further education, we’re determined to do our bit to help those who aspire to become business owners or at the very least, to give them some career direction.
That’s why we’re launching an exciting new programme - NextGen Elevate - aimed squarely at this age group. Our student entrepreneurship programme covers everything young people need to know about nurturing a business idea and taking it through to the start-up stage.
In partnership with Morley College London, we aim to inspire and equip young adults with the confidence to explore self-employment. While running a business isn’t for everyone, for some, it could be the best career decision they ever make.
If you are aged 15-19 and ready to take control of your future, sign up now to learn out more about this exciting new programme.
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