Centre for Britain and Europe participates in Evidence Week in Parliament, presenting new insights on young people and NEETs
On the 7 of July, Professor Amelia Hadfield and Megan Ward represented the Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE), University of Surrey, at Evidence Week in Parliament, an annual event that brings together researchers, parliamentarians and the public to strengthen how evidence is used in policymaking.
Across the morning session, they briefed MPs, peers and parliamentary staff on Centre for Britain and Europe's (CBE) latest research into young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs). Drawing on 18 months of evidence, they outlined the urgent need to reassess current policy approaches and presented practical recommendations for improving pathways and support for NEETs in Surrey and across the UK.
Megan Ward with Professor Dame Angela McLean, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government
Professor Amelia Hadfield and Megan Ward met with a wide range of parliamentarians, including Professor Dame Angela McLean, Lord Hampton, Lauren Edwards MP, Juliet Campbell MP, Baroness Browning and Baroness Coffey, as well as civil servants from the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology. Their discussions equipped attendees with up‑to‑date evidence to inform future decisions on youth policy and long‑term support structures.
Professor Amelia Hadfield and Megan Ward with Lord Hampton
Professor Amelia Hadfield said:
"Delighted to have had the opportunity to present our cutting‑edge work, 'Understanding NEETs, Evidence to Address the Crisis,' to Members of Parliament, peers in the House of Lords, and the parliamentary and science‑policy research community at yesterday's Evidence Week in Parliament. The engagement across MPs, Lords, House of Commons Library researchers and civil‑service learning partners represented at the event enabled vital dialogue linking rigorous evidence to practical policy levers. The opportunity to present our findings, but also discuss government approaches helped highlight clear levers for prevention, early intervention and labour‑market integration. I should like to thank the organisers and all participants for a thoughtful, collegiate forum that modelled how academic insight can inform urgent, cross‑departmental solutions. The event’s blend of research, policy expertise and stakeholder insight strengthened pathways to actionable reforms and will directly inform the Centre for Britain and Europe’s next steps in translating evidence into policy that reduces NEETs and supports young people into sustainable employment and social inclusion."
Evidence Week, now in its ninth year, is run by Sense about Science in partnership with research institutions and community groups across the UK. The event enables MPs to engage directly with leading researchers on issues ranging from clean energy to AI sovereignty, while giving members of the public the chance to question parliamentarians about how evidence is used in decision‑making. It also supports legislators in navigating uncertainty, identifying bias and scrutinising assumptions behind policy proposals.
CBE’s policy briefing, shared with all attendees, is available below along with a short policy‑briefing video summarising the research, key findings and next steps for addressing the NEETs crisis.
