City Voices: A City & Guilds Podcast

Why Durable skills are essential

City & Guilds Season 1 Episode 5

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How can we better equip young people with essential, future-ready skills?

Why are nearly a million young people in the UK not in employment, education, or training, and what role do "durable skills" play in this persistent problem?

Join us as we welcome expert guests Andrea Barry from Youth Futures Foundation and Ema Marinho, Early Careers Lead at William Hare, for a candid discussion. Discover:

  • Why there's a perceived "disconnect" between education and employers, even when young people have good grades.
  • The critical role of mentorship and post-recruitment support in enabling young people to thrive in the workplace.
  • How systemic issues, including financial barriers and varied awareness, particularly impact young people from ethnic minority backgrounds seeking apprenticeships.
  • Bold ideas for encouraging more employers, especially SMEs, to engage with and support young apprentices.

This mini-series finale, hosted by co-hosts Bryony Kingsland, (City & Guilds), and Gavin O'Meara (FE News), dives into a challenge affecting every sector and every age group in the workforce: Durable Skills.

This episode offers vital insights for anyone involved in skills development, education, or employment. Tune in to explore the systemic challenges — and discover actionable solutions for building a future-ready workforce where no one falls through the gaps.

Listen now and gain a deeper understanding of how we can collectively empower the next generation! 

For further information about the material quoted in this episode visit:

Making Skills Work: The Path to Solving the Productivity Crisis - report

📢 Listen now and be part of the conversation shaping the future of skills.

Listen today, or watch on YouTube