Unboxing the challenge ahead for the UK’s second Pension Commission.

Navigating youth unemployment: rethinking support for young people.

This episode of Thinking Policy centres on the pressing issue of youth unemployment in the United Kingdom, particularly the alarming statistic that nearly a million young individuals are classified as not in education, employment, or training (NEET). We speak to two guests - Harriet McCann, the Director of Policy, Insights and External Affairs at the National Youth Agency, and Richard Rigby, the Head of UK Government Affairs at the King's Trust, who give their perspectives on the multifaceted causes of this challenge, which include - but are not limited to - economic instability, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased mental health concerns among the young. We explore the systemic barriers that exacerbate this crisis and the potential strategies for fostering a more supportive environment for young people. The episode touches on the recently published National Youth Strategy and the need for cohesive, cross-departmental collaboration to address these issues. The WPI Economics team then reflects on the need for a holistic approach that emphasises the importance of early intervention and support mechanisms to mitigate the risks faced by the current generation. Takeaways: 1. The podcast discusses the alarming statistic that nearly a million young individuals in the UK are currently classified as neither in education, employment, nor training, a situation that necessitates urgent action. 2. The conversation highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people, exacerbating existing challenges and creating new barriers to employment and education. 3. Expert guests emphasise the fundamental role of youth work in fostering resilience and the importance of providing young people with trusted adults to guide them during critical transitions into adulthood. 4. It is posited that systemic issues such as child poverty and cuts to youth services have worsened the current situation for young people, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of funding priorities and support mechanisms. 5. The episode underscores the need for a multifaceted approach, addressing both immediate employment challenges and the long-term societal issues impacting youth engagement and well-being Links: National Youth Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy] National Youth Agency response: https://nya.org.uk/nya-response-to-the-national-youth-strategy/ [https://nya.org.uk/nya-response-to-the-national-youth-strategy/] King’s Trust’s 50th Anniversary social impact report: https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/about-us/news-views/50-years-of-working-for-young-people-report [https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/about-us/news-views/50-years-of-working-for-young-people-report] NEET data, February 2026, ONS: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/february2026 [https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/february2026] 00:00 Welcome and Youth Strategy 01:22 Why NEET Is Rising 02:48 Youth Work and Prevention 05:54 Funding and Joined Up Government 08:54 Trusted Adults by 2035 10:33 Proving Impact and Value 12:14 What We Over and Underthink 14:01 Richard on Disrupted Generation 17:22 Kings Trust Solutions and Partnerships 21:23 Impact Report and ROI Evidence 22:46 Stop Blaming Young People 24:52 WPI Debrief UK Specific Problem 28:41 How the SROI Was Built 32:11 Ed on Poverty and Pensions 35:41 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Unboxing the challenge ahead for the UK’s second Pension Commission.

Welcome to Thinking Policy. The new podcast from https://wpieconomics.com/ [https://wpieconomics.com/] Thinking Policy = Policy Unboxed. This episode discusses the legacy and influence of the first Pensions Commission, lauded for setting a standard in evidence-based, long-term policymaking, and the challenges facing its successor. The episode examines the first Commission's impact, the continuity of its policy approaches and the importance of long-term decision making. It explores what has changed in the employment landscape since, including the rise of self-employment, and the need for the future system to tackle remaining gaps in coverage while also addressing issues around pension adequacy. The discussion looks ahead to how the second Pensions Commission can respond effectively to this more complex picture. Joining the WPI Economics team for this first episode are our experts: Jo Phillips - Director of Research and Innovation at Nest Insight https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/ [https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-phillips-3930323/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-phillips-3930323/] Matt Burrell - Head of Public Affairs for Long-Term Savings at Phoenix Group https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/ [https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/] linkedin.com/in/matthewcburrell [http://linkedin.com/in/matthewcburrell] For more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-pensions-commission [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-pensions-commission] www.nestinsight.org.uk [https://link.edgepilot.com/s/e68acdfe/YX6i5sdh10ytbdhml-oi0w?u=https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/] Workplace emergency savings, including sidecar saving [https://link.edgepilot.com/s/2f328102/9nI8nV5kfkCzL_le--Eu9A?u=https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/research-projects/workplace-emergency-savings/] Supporting self-employed people to save for retirement [https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3467b57f/CN2lfWDvgUetTbiinYmb9w?u=https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/research-projects/self-employed-pension-saving/] Housing and Pensions [https://link.edgepilot.com/s/1d37619e/c8mnc3MZn0W08OywLRPZwg?u=https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/housing-and-pensions/] Pensions adequacy and the household balance sheet [https://link.edgepilot.com/s/c8b33ea1/RYqc4B3jl0SCcUV5WhW-DQ?u=https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/research-projects/pensions-adequacy-and-the-household-balance-sheet/%231727303454504-57989897-66ed] UK pension reforms (1997-2015) [https://link.edgepilot.com/s/d5fa222f/72KdDzdwF0SKbWvOYw1m2g?u=https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/uk-pension-reforms/] NEW: Nest Insight research suggests caution needed over the idea of ‘pension access schemes’ for first-time home buyers [https://www.nestinsight.org.uk/nest-insight-research-suggests-caution-needed-over-idea-of-pension-access-schemes-for-first-time-home-buyers/] Join the conversation, find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpi-economics/posts/?feedView=all [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpi-economics/posts/?feedView=all] https://wpieconomics.com/podcasts/episode-1/ [https://wpieconomics.com/podcasts/episode-1/] Keep up to date with our work, upcoming events and policy insights by signing up to our newsletter - https://wpieconomics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=59aedfe7c4344116a3955fe95&id=8fa8a934e5 [https://wpieconomics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=59aedfe7c4344116a3955fe95&id=8fa8a934e5] 00:00 Introduction to the Pensions Commission 00:18 Evaluating the Commission's Reputation 00:47 Impact of Government Changes on Policy 00:58 The Role of Political Consensus 01:29 Fundamental Shifts in Pension Saving 02:10 Changes in Work and Retirement Since 2006 02:21 Challenges of a Pillar Two-Based Pension System 03:16 The Rise of Precarious Employment 03:41 Automatic Enrollment and Employer Roles 04:01 Pension Freedoms and Retirement Income 04:41 Balancing Complexity and Simplicity in Pension Systems 09:04 Increasing Private Pension Savings 09:46 Addressing Self-Employment in Pension Policy 10:49 The Commission's Remit and Recommendations 12:24 Conclusion: Ensuring Adequate Retirement

Introducing Thinking Policy - Policy Unboxed

Welcome to Thinking Policy, the new podcast from WPI Economics, where evidence, data, and diverse ideas converge to shape important debates. Each episode features two expert guests discussing a single economic or social policy challenge from different perspectives. The WPI Economics team then reflects, fact-checks, and challenges assumptions to uncover what really works. Topics include inequality, welfare, housing policy, green growth, and the future of work. Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and follow WPI Economics on LinkedIn. Join the conversation, find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpi-economics/posts/?feedView=all [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpi-economics/posts/?feedView=all] Keep up to date with our work, upcoming events and policy insights by signing up to our newsletter - https://wpieconomics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=59aedfe7c4344116a3955fe95&id=8fa8a934e5 [https://wpieconomics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=59aedfe7c4344116a3955fe95&id=8fa8a934e5] https://wpieconomics.com/ [https://wpieconomics.com/] 00:00 Introduction to Thinking Policy Podcast 00:13 Expert Guests and Their Perspectives 00:25 WPI Economics Team's Role 00:41 Topics We Cover 01:03 Join the Conversation