Ealing Council is exploring ways to better support young people in the borough, including mentorship opportunities and upskilling initiatives in key growth sectors. These efforts aim to equip young residents with 'future-ready' skills, such as those related to artificial intelligence, to ensure sustainable employment.
The Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday 18 September 2025, and discussed how to leverage Ealing's network of successful professionals to support young people. Councillors suggested creating opportunities to practise interview skills online and encouraging mentors from industry or within the council to assist young people with interviews.
The panel also suggested incentivising local businesses to offer summer placements, noting the value of such experiences for young people. The panel noted that those who had participated in summer placements highlighted the value of such experiences.
The discussion took place during a wider review of employment, enterprise and apprenticeship schemes in the borough. Naseem Kauser, Head of Employment, Enterprise and Apprenticeship, highlighted the importance of connecting communities throughout Ealing's seven towns and ensuring young people are equipped to meet the demands of an evolving labour market.
Kauser noted that employment trends have shifted significantly, and the council needs to respond by embedding new ways of working into its delivery models. She referenced the introduction of artificial intelligence and other innovations, emphasising that young people must gain future-ready skills to access sustainable employment.
The council is working with Spark!, an organisation supporting schools and the voluntary sector in Ealing, to tackle issues such as isolation and mental health challenges faced by young people post-pandemic. Kauser shared that in the aftermath of the pandemic, many young people had been left isolated, and new challenges had emerged, particularly around mental health. Spark! has been instrumental in providing work placements, voluntary opportunities, and employability programmes for a wide range of young people, including those attending special schools and those with SEND. The council is also partnering with Connexions and Job Centre Plus to improve outreach and data accuracy regarding NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) young people. The IET programme was also mentioned as providing support to young people.
According to data presented at the meeting, as of July 2024, 6.9% of young people in Ealing were categorised as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Officers reported that Ealing was already performing well in terms of NEET rates compared to both the London and UK averages, and that other local authorities were learning from their approach. While the data for 16–17 year-olds indicated a very low percentage (0.1%), this was attributed to difficulties in tracking this group once they leave school. The council, alongside Connexions and Job Centre Plus, continues working to improve outreach and data accuracy. Kauser acknowledged the role of the Connexions team in attempting to bridge these gaps, noting that even the DWP faced difficulties in tracing these young people.
The panel also heard from two young people who had participated in Spark! programmes, who shared their personal experiences. One student spoke about how the programme helped them progress to final recruitment stages with several major employers, while another described the work experience programme as one of the most valuable experiences of their life, helping them identify a clearer career path.
Megan Wright, Collective Action Manager, presented feedback from the Youth Employability Partnership programme, highlighting the long-term nature of the intervention and the personalised support it provides. Students expressed that speaking directly to professionals had helped them understand how the world of work operated and what skills were valued by employers.
The panel suggested collecting more data on programme outcomes to ensure there is clear evidence of impact and a multiplier effect from the investment being made. The next meeting will be held on 18 November 2025.
