conf · one-off
Industry x Education: Tackling Young People Becoming NEET
How Leeds tech employers can help young people avoid becoming NEET
When
Tuesday 22 September
Time
16:00
Venue
Leeds Beckett University City Campus
City Centre
Price
Free
On Tuesday 22 September 2026, Transcend Tech Leeds and Ahead Partnership are hosting a two-hour conference at Leeds Beckett University's City Campus to address the growing number of young people who are NEET — Not in Education, Employment or Training. The event brings together digital and technology employers, schools, colleges, careers advisers, local authority teams, youth support organisations and young people themselves to examine what practical action looks like.
The session runs from 4pm to 6pm and opens with a keynote on the current challenges facing young people at risk of disengagement, followed by a youth voice segment where young people share their own experiences. A panel discussion and roundtable with networking close the afternoon. The format is deliberately conversational: open discussion, shared experiences and practical collaboration rather than passive listening.
Four themes run through the agenda: why some young people disengage from education and career pathways; the role employers can play through work experience, mentoring, workplace visits and skills workshops; how schools, colleges and companies can build stronger local partnerships; and innovative approaches to employer engagement. Attendees are expected to contribute ideas, not just observe.
The event is co-hosted by Accenture U and organised through Transcend Tech Leeds, a community group focused on digital skills and inclusion across the city. Ahead Partnership, which brokers relationships between businesses and schools across Yorkshire, is the delivery partner. Together they are making the case that the tech sector — with its range of entry points and career paths that do not all require a traditional academic route — is well placed to make a measurable difference to young people who currently cannot see a way in.
This is a practical, sector-specific conversation grounded in the Leeds and West Yorkshire context. If you employ people in tech, work in education or support young people into work, this is the room to be in.
Why attend
You will hear directly from young people about what barriers look like from their side, and from employers who have already run mentoring or work experience programmes about what has actually worked. The keynote and panel are structured to surface concrete insight rather than general sentiment.
The roundtable format means you will leave with contacts across education, local authority and the third sector — the people you need to know if you want to set up a school partnership, offer placements or contribute to a skills programme. Attendance is free and the event runs in central Leeds, finishing at 6pm.
Agenda
- 4:00pm – 4:30pm Keynote: current challenges facing young people at risk of disengagement
- 4:30pm – 4:45pm Youth voice: first-hand experiences from young people
- 4:45pm – 5:00pm Break
- 5:00pm – 5:30pm Panel discussion
- 5:30pm – 6:00pm Roundtable discussion and networking
Organiser
Transcend Tech – Leeds
Transcend Tech Leeds is a Leeds-based community group focused on digital skills, inclusion and access to the tech sector. They run events that connect employers, educators and people entering or re-entering the workforce. This event is co-hosted with Accenture U and delivered in partnership with Ahead Partnership, which brokers employer-education relationships across Yorkshire.
Venue
Leeds Beckett University City Campus, City Centre
Leeds Beckett University City Campus sits on Portland Way in Leeds city centre, LS1 3HE. The Portland Building is a short walk from Leeds train station and well served by city-centre bus routes.
FAQs
- Is this event free to attend?
- The source listing does not state a ticket price, which suggests attendance is free. Check the Meetup event page to confirm and to register your place.
- Where exactly is the venue?
- Leeds Beckett University City Campus, Portland Building Entrance Corridor, Portland Way, Leeds, LS1 3HE. The building is in the city centre, close to Leeds train station.
- Do I need to register in advance?
- Yes. The event is listed on Meetup via the Transcend Tech Leeds group. Register through the Meetup page to secure your place.
- Who is this event aimed at?
- Digital and technology employers, education leaders, teachers, careers advisers, local authority and youth support teams, charities and social enterprises working with young people, and students who want to share their perspectives.
- Is this an in-person event?
- Yes. The event takes place in person at Leeds Beckett University City Campus on Tuesday 22 September 2026, 4pm to 6pm BST. No hybrid or online option is mentioned in the source.