LSST’s Head of Further Education Speaks Out on the NEET Crisis – “This Is LSST’s Moment to Rebuild Youth Confidence and Capability”
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 14 November 2025
In an era marked by educational disruption and economic uncertainty, Matt Garvey, Head of Further Education and Business Development at LSST, has issued a compelling warning about the UK’s growing NEET crisis. With nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), the issue has been described by ministers as a “crisis of opportunity.”
Speaking from LSST’s modern Wembley Hive campus, a day after LSST won the Mayor of London’s ‘Distinguished Provider of Adult Education Award’, Garvey emphasised that this is not merely a statistical concern, it’s a deeply human one. “Too many young lives are being quietly sidelined not through lack of ability, but through lack of connection, confidence and opportunity. We refuse to treat them as numbers on a ledger. They are agents of change waiting for their moment.”
The Pandemic’s Lingering Impact
Garvey points to the long shadow cast by COVID-19. Many of today’s NEET young adults were preparing for their GCSEs when the pandemic struck, enduring isolation, interrupted studies, and heightened anxiety. The most vulnerable, those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those most isolated, were all hit the hardest. “A 20-year-old in 2025 would probably have had their most formative years disrupted,” Matt noted. “We must acknowledge that and respond with urgency.”
A Proven Path Forward
Reflecting on past efforts, Matt draws parallels with the post-financial crash era: “I’ve worked in Further Education since 1999. I remember the NEET crisis following the 2008 crash. Initiatives like the Future Jobs Fund and Youth Guarantee had an impact, but the most effective were those offering one-to-one support.”
That insight underpins LSST’s involvement in the government’s new Youth Trailblazer programme, currently being piloted in the West Midlands Combined Authority. LSST is among the selected providers helping 18–21-year-olds re-engage with education, employment or training.
“Low confidence, high anxiety and diminished optimism are common among NEET young adults,” Garvey explained. “But with a dedicated coach, we transform ‘just another course’ into a personal journey that breaks down barriers and builds belief.”
Confidence First, Capability Follows
At LSST, the journey begins the moment a learner walks through the door. Whether through Skills Bootcamps in London or Youth Trailblazer programmes in Birmingham, the focus is on rebuilding confidence – step by step.
“We build confidence one learner at a time,” Matt said. “And when that confidence holds, capability follows.”
A National Challenge
The scale of the NEET crisis is sobering. A forthcoming government review, led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, will examine the issue in depth. Currently, a quarter of NEETs cite long-term sickness or disability as a barrier to participation, and 80% of Health and Employment Support Allowance claims relate to mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions.
In this context, LSST’s recent recognition as The Mayor of London’s Distinguished Provider of Adult Education takes on added significance.
“Adult learning is a lifeline,” Matt said. “Our learners arrive with potential and leave with purpose.”
Matt Garvey is clear: NEET statistics are not just policy metrics; they reflect a fragmented landscape of opportunity. “At LSST, we use dedicated one-to-one support to unlock each learner’s potential. This isn’t just about reducing NEET numbers, it’s about opening futures that are fulfilling, healthy, and rewarding.”
A New Beginning
For many, the journey starts with a bold decision: to re-engage, to reclaim direction, to choose hope.
“Whether it is the Youth Trailblazer in Birmingham or our Skills Bootcamps in London, we are open and ready to help,” Matt added. “LSST isn’t just about training – it’s about stepping into your future and realising your full potential. This is LSST’s moment to rebuild youth confidence and capability”.
As policymakers prepare the next phase of national strategy, LSST is already acting, proving that urgent compassion and robust one-to-one support can turn the tide.
Get Involved
Are you aged 18–21, not in work, education, or training and living in Birmingham or London? Ready to transform ambition into achievement?
📩 Apply now:
- Foteini Meleti, Programme Manager: foteini.meleti@lsst.ac
- Matt Garvey, Head of Further Education & Business Development: matthew.garvey@lsst.ac
Read more about LSST winning The Mayor of London’s Distinguished Provider of Adult Education Award here: https://www.lsst.ac/news/lsst-wins-the-mayor-of-londons-distinguished-provider-of-adult-education-award-for-transforming-adult-learning-in-london/
Read more about LSST’s Trailblazer here: LSST Launches Youth Guarantee Trailblazer Initiative to Empower 18–21-Year-Olds in Birmingham – London School of Science & Technology
References
Office for National Statistics (2025) Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), August 2025. ONS. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork (Accessed: 14 November 2025).
Youth Futures Foundation (2025) Youth Guarantee Trailblazers: What you need to know. Available at: https://youthfuturesfoundation.org/blog/youth-guarantee-trailblazers-what-you-need-to-know/ (Accessed: 14 November 2025).
Learning and Work Institute (2025) NEET Data Briefing, April 2025. Available at: https://learningandwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/LW_NEET_data_briefing_April2025.pdf (Accessed: 14 November 2025).
West Midlands Combined Authority (2025) Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. WMCA. Available at: https://www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/employment-and-skills/youth-employment-plan/youth-guarantee-trailblazer/ (Accessed: 14 November 2025).
For additional information or interviews, please direct questions to LSST’s Public Relations Manager via kunal.mehta@lsst.ac.
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