In his role as Chair of Universities West, Professor Sir Steve West, Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol, has urged a shared regional commitment to collaboration and partnership. The aim is to create clear pathways to education and employment for young people in the West of England, ensuring they can see a future for themselves within the region.
Professor West stated that a successful region must prioritise opportunities for its young people, making it a central test of economic ambitions. He believes universities, working alongside colleges, schools, employers, and local government, can achieve more together than through separate institutional efforts.
The article highlights the national challenge, with the Office for National Statistics estimating 981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 across the UK were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in April to June 2026. Professor West emphasised that behind the NEET acronym are individuals with diverse circumstances, all possessing potential that can be realised with the right support.
He stressed that ambition needs credible opportunities and practical support, and that for the West of England, this is both an economic imperative and a social responsibility. Leaving young people outside education and employment diminishes their prospects and the region's capacity to prosper.
Universities West, comprising Bath Spa University, the University of Bath, the University of Bristol, and UWE Bristol, is working with Colleges West to align their contributions around regional needs. The article references a paper from Colleges West advocating for a coherent regional skills system that shapes outcomes for learners and employers.
Collaboration must follow the learner, with seamless and transparent transitions between institutions and funding programmes. Professor West highlighted the success of the Future Quest initiative, a Uni Connect partnership serving Bristol and South Gloucestershire, which has engaged over 40,000 students since 2017 and shown encouraging higher education progression rates among its target students.
The article concludes by calling for a shared regional commitment to participation and progression, developed with young people. Universities West and Colleges West will collaborate with the West of England Combined Authority, schools, and employers to identify barriers and coordinate support. The focus will be on transitions from school and college, connecting outreach with employment, and leveraging research and business partnerships to create opportunities for local people.
