Amey and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award call for greater collaboration to tackle youth unemployment
On 24 October, Amey and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) brought together representatives from national and local government, employers, education providers, policymakers and community organisations in Sheffield to explore how greater access to enrichment opportunities could help young people develop the skills they need to move into employment.
The roundtable comes as nearly one million young people across the UK are not in education, employment or training, highlighting the need for employers, educators and policymakers to work together to create stronger routes into work.
Sheffield was chosen because it provides a strong foundation for place-based collaboration. Last year, more than 2,400 young people started their DofE in Sheffield, while Amey’s long-term Streets Ahead partnership with Sheffield City Council provides an established connection to local communities and employment opportunities.
Discussions focused on how employers can better recognise the skills young people develop through enrichment and translate them into opportunities for work. Ideas included work experience, employer taster days, recognising DofE participation in recruitment, and stronger partnerships with schools and colleges.
Kyle Clough, Highways Sector Director at Amey, said: “It was fantastic to see so many organisations come together with a shared ambition to improve opportunities for young people. We know there is hard work ahead, but the quality of the discussion and commitment in the room gives us real reason to be optimistic about what we can achieve together. We are proud to be working with DofE and hope to build on the work already happening through Streets Ahead in Sheffield, taking what we learn here and exploring how it could help create stronger pathways into employment for young people across the UK.”
Ruth Marvel OBE, Chief Executive of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “We know that high-quality enrichment opportunities like the DofE can play a transformative role in a young person’s life. That’s why it was so encouraging to bring together employers, educators, policymakers and community organisations in Sheffield to explore practical ways for more young people to access these experiences, helping them build the skills, confidence and networks that can shape their future.
We’re proud to have worked alongside Amey for more than 20 years. By continuing to work together and building partnerships across sectors, we can help create stronger pathways into education, employment and training for the young people who need our support the most.”
Leo Marquis, Highways Apprentice at Amey and DofE participant, said: “Doing DofE helped me develop confidence, resilience and the skills I use every day in my career. The experiences I gained gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and helped prepare me for the world of work. It was encouraging to see so many organisations come together to discuss how we can create more opportunities for young people, and I hope the conversations from today help more people access the support and experiences that can make a real difference to their future.”
