UK Budget Bonus Episode featuring Anthony Impey MBE

“The NEET number should be a real national concern — nearly a million — and I think it’s actually higher, because it’s not capturing young people in zero-hour or gig work.”  — Anthony Impey, MBE

Set against the backdrop of the 2025 Autumn Budget, City & Guilds CEO Kirstie Donnelly MBE sat down with Anthony Impey MBE, Chief Executive of Be the Business—the organisation championing productivity across UK businesses. Anthony also chairs the City & Guilds Industry Skills Board. 

In this special bonus episode, Kirstie and Anthony unpack what the Chancellor’s announcements really mean for the skills system, employers, and the workforce of the future — with reflections recorded just hours after the Budget was delivered.

And yes… discover what being a lettuce picker and a young bus conductor have to do with this UK Budget episode. (You’ll be surprised — but it makes perfect sense.)

Be among the first to watch as they reflect on the key talking points from the Budget, including:

• What the announcements mean for skills policy and workforce development across the UK.
•  Key implications for employers, training providers, and individuals navigating the skills landscape
• The top omissions from the Budget and their potential impact on the sector.
• How policymakers, business leaders, and the sector can work together to drive productivity and foster lifelong learning.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Budget Reax And Skills Focus
• 1:45 SMEs, Growth, And Devolved Funding
• 4:00 How Local Skills Clusters Can Support SMEs and Boost Employment
• 6:55 How the Youth Guarantee Supports Young People into Work
• 10:39 Why Durable Skills Are Key to Supporting Young People and the Workforce
• 14:44 Why £725 Million is a Good Starting Point
• 15:34 How Short Courses and Continuous Learning Support Career Progression
• 18:08 National Living Wage
• 20:41 Lettuces and Buses