Working to ensure every young person has a clear pathway into learning, employment, and independence.
Our role
Hertfordshire Futures, Step2Skills, and Services for Young People work together to ensure every young person can access education, training, employment, and the support they need to thrive as adults.
We create clear pathways into learning and work, particularly for those facing barriers to participation, and play a leading role in reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
The NEET agenda
Hertfordshire Futures plays a strategic role in bringing together education, employers, skills providers, healthcare, and employment support services. We work to ensure young people can access the right support at the right time.
As part of our statutory responsibilities, support is delivered through Services for Young People, which works with young people aged 16-18 who are NEET, and up to age 25 for care leavers and those with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP).
Hertfordshire Careers Hub leads on preventative activity, helping to reduce the number of young people who become NEET and ensuring they do not fall through the cracks.
This work includes:
Interventions for young people at risk of becoming NEET.
Strengthening transitions from school into further education, training, apprenticeships, and employment.
Connecting young people with local employers and career opportunities.
Promoting inclusive pathways for young people with additional needs or barriers to work.
Developing local skills and employment initiatives that support long-term career progression.
Our work is underpinned by a range of skills and employment strategies. Learn more
Support programmes
We deliver and promote a range of prevention, economic growth, and skills delivery programmes available to young people and employers across Hertfordshire.
Support for young people
HOP is Hertfordshire's one-stop careers platform, providing information about career pathways, apprenticeships, local employers, growth sectors, and live training and job opportunities.
Step2Skills offer a wide variety of course for residents aged 19+ including qualifications, short non-accredited course, and workshops in areas such as digital, employability, and work skills.
Led locally by Step2Skills, the Connect To Work programme helps residents aged 18+ with disabilities, health conditions, or complex barriers to find, stay, and progress in work.
We work with employers, training providers, and local partners to promote apprenticeships as a high-quality route into skilled employment. Apprenticeships help young people earn while they learn, gain nationally recognised qualifications, and build rewarding careers.
Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks that help residents develop in-demand workplace skills and progress into employment or career development opportunities. Skills Bootcamps are also open to employers looking to upskill staff.
Our Get Enterprising programme supports residents of all ages to take their first step towards starting and growing a new business.
Support for employers
Our Social Value service works with businesses to ensure public sector contracts deliver wider benefits to local people. This includes giving residents the chance to build skills, gain work experience, find apprenticeships, and secure employment.
Our 'Hertfordshire Opportunities' skills brokerage services helps employers to discover smarter ways to recruit and upskill staff through a range of programmes and services designed to help their business grow. The team also supports with Apprenticeships, the Youth Guarantee, and Youth Jobs Grant.
Get in touch
Caroline Cartwright is our Head of Skills (Strategy).
Want to learn more about our Skills and Employment work in Hertfordshire?