Published: 25 February 2010

NIACE logoLSIS logoNIACE has been asked by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) to undertake a national research project involving a wide range of learning providers to look at attitudes and experiences of those not in education, employment or training (NEET). The research project will involve two parallel pieces of work: the first looking at young NEETs (16–24) and the second at adult NEETs (25+).The work with young NEETs will have a particular focus on exploring young people's awareness and experience of the September and January guarantees.

In order to take forward this project, NIACE is looking for a range of learning providers, including those in the voluntary sector, to undertake interviews with young and adult NEETs, and those with recent experience of being NEET, by 31 March 2010.

The aims of the research project are to:

  • improve understanding of the aspirations, motivations and behaviours of young people and adults who are not in education, employment or training;
  • support providers in the learning and skills sector to secure institution-specific evidence to develop their understanding in relation to these issues;
  • inform individual provider strategies to meet the needs of young people and adults in their locality; and
  • inform the national strategy (in preparation) for the raising the participation age.

Participating providers will be offered a small grant, in return for:

  • completing a short online provider questionnaire;
  • undertaking a number of interviews with young people and/or adults; and
  • encouraging interviewees to submit testimonies in a range of formats.

NIACE will offer a range of research support to providers, including research tools, documentation and support material, access to a telephone hotline and an online community for those undertaking the research. Resources will also be provided to enable staff to use their participation in the project towards their CPD record.

Providers are invited to register their interest in participating in this research by Friday 5 March 2010.