Blogs

Claire Quince, WPA’s Business Coordinator and Andrew Hamar, WPA’s Senior Client Support Manager attended the monthly Youth Engagement Progression Framework (YEPF) in December 2024, at Coleg Y Cymoedd. The YEPF is a group replicated across the entirety of Wales, and focuses on supporting, aiding and discussing the ways in which public sector organisations in Wales can collaborate to help NEET 16 to 18 year olds in the borough of Caerphilly.

The monthly YEPF takes place in Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) and has been successful and effective for several years. Representatives from organisations across the public sector, such as colleges, schools, councils and Careers Wales, along with many others, meet to discuss and collaborate on ways to reduce the amount of NEET 16 to 18 year olds in the borough.

The framework is built around early identification of 11 to 18 year olds who are at risk of becoming NEET. This positive initiative endeavours to help the younger people in Wales to avoid becoming NEET.  In addition, the framework operates alongside the YPG (Young Persons Guarantee) for people aged 16 to 24. The collaboration of members within the YEPF and YPG helps to prevent homelessness and poverty, providing support to children so they can thrive to achieve their potential.

The meeting raised avenues for a working partnership between the WPA team and the YEPF coordinators to achieve mutually beneficial goals within the local communities. WPA and YEPF both identified that it would be necessary to make introductions to key people within the public sector organisations to strengthen relationships and future opportunities within Wales.

Furthermore, these introductions to public sector organisations, key stakeholders and appointed companies, would provide the possibility of training and apprenticeships for younger people who would otherwise not be afforded these opportunities. These positive inroads could ultimately increase the number of quality skilled workers and improve supply chain issues, but most importantly improve the lives of younger people, their mental health, and social and economic situations.

It was suggested that WPA, along with the public sector organisations and appointed companies, could mutually contribute to social value targets across Wales and the wider LHCPG division. WPA also suggested jointly contributing to Wales’ national milestone, in the hope that at least 90% of 16 to 24 year olds would be educated, employed or trained (EET) by 2050. This would improve communities, lives, and places throughout Wales.

Another topic of discussion was the need to work collaboratively to support Wales and the UK’s Net Zero targets through providing quality training to young people in areas such as sustainability and energy efficiency in the construction industry, and built environment. A much needed focus on improving green skills and upskilling regional was acknowledged as a key motivator going forward.

The WPA team left the conference feeling positive and looking forward to future collaborations and projects. Through WPA’s Social Value Strategy and bid to improve lives and places through quality procurement solutions, along with a great emphasis on reaching Wales’ Net Zero targets, the topics discussed within the conference addressed these hugely important challenges which WPA are looking forward to supporting in the future.