The cross-pollination bringing skills partnerships to life

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few months thinking about NEETs – those individuals who are not in education, employment or training. The Milburn report, which was published earlier this summer, painted a grim picture of life as a young person.

Against this gloomy backdrop, however, there is evidence of a powerful way forwards – a sunlit upland if you will.

In July, we were able to host a brilliant event at AMT Headingley, whereby Checkatrade, a key partner both for the club and our foundation, brought together educators, policymakers, thinkers and do-ers. The Checkatrade Skills Summit sought to address some of the biggest questions facing our country’s young people.

As Jambu Palaniappan, CEO of Checkatrade, pointed out at the event: almost a million young people are not in education, employment or training, while the UK needs 1.3 million new tradespeople within the decade.

What was clear to me, was that this isn’t a case of ‘asking government to intervene’ or telling the private sector ‘you have to pay for it’ or charities ‘you need to take up the initiative’. The ONLY way this works is through genuine collaboration.

While that word may have lost some value through corporate overuse over the years, the skills summit and the topics we discussed was a blueprint for genuine partnership working and taking us back to a truer meaning.

It was fitting for me that this event was held in Leeds. There is a strength in this city’s DNA that can mean supporting young people who are classed as NEET is a solution, rather than the problem. Those young people become partners in a shared city mission.

Having also spent time recently with Leeds College of Building, and at Elland Road talking about similar issues, it’s an area Leeds can excel in. Alongside key partners in this city, from public, private and third sector, we can do better and act as a beacon of hope.