Government officials announced on 2 July 2026 that new tools and guidance will help local councils identify and support teenagers at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training). Data from councils revealed that 32,100 “phantom NEETS” were unaccounted for, with North Lincolnshire missing information on nearly half of its 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds, while four councils had complete records. Overall statistics show an estimated 57,000 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds are NEET. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, wrote to all councils setting expectations for improvement and will send a separate letter to 26 councils facing the greatest challenges. A new Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI) tool, plus guidance for schools and colleges, will help identify high‑risk young people early. The government also announced a £2.5 billion youth employment package, including a £2,000 incentive for small businesses hiring apprentices and expanded Jobs Guarantee schemes.
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Summary adapted from content licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
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