1. 8 May 2013 Verity Hancock, Principal, Leicester College
Youth Employment Convention: The Impacts of Raising the Participation Age
8 May 2013
Verity Hancock, Principal, Leicester College

2. Leicester College 26,000 learners Age range 13-93
5,800 learners aged 16-18
20,000 learners aged 19+
660 Higher Education learners
2,000 apprentices
3,750 ESOL learners
2,000 employer customers
3 main sites, 80 outreach centres
1,500 staff
We are one of the largest colleges in the country – we have a very wide range of learners, across all age groups and studying at different levels, from entry up to university level;
We have around between 1,500 and 2,000 employer customers a year from the public and private sector
We also have 1,500 staff so we are a major employer in Leicester – that also means we have a broad spectrum of expertise and skills across many sectors

3. Benefits of RPA
Young people are better prepared for employment, further or higher education
Study programmes that are personalised and meet specific need
More time for young people to find the right route
More time for young people to develop their skills

4. Implications Colleges: Young People:
Meeting expectations – young people and employers
Increase in potential cohort size
1,650 NEETs Leic/Leics
Competition and relationships with schools
Getting impartial advice to young people and their families
Importance of a really good offer and routes from age 14/16
Traineeships, Study programmes, Tech Bacc?
Young People:
Understanding the benefits of ‘staying on’
Understanding that ‘staying on’ can mean moving to another institution
Having and awareness of aspirational and achievable career paths
Navigating through the choice of:
Providers
Offer
Identifying appropriate support

5. Challenges for colleges and providers
Managing competition
Impartial and early IAG
Getting it right for the individual young person
Preference for academic over vocational
Developing a diverse and flexible offer
Supporting people who make the ‘wrong’ choices
Impact of adult funding policy – getting it right first time becomes more critical?