Barclays urges Government to embed employability skills in schools to support young people into work

A new report from Barclays is calling on the Government to make employability skills a core part of the school curriculum to better prepare young people for the world of work. Published in May 2025, Workforce Ready: Supporting Young People with the Employability Skills that Businesses Need for Growth shines a spotlight on the growing disconnect between what businesses need and how young people are being prepared for employment. 

Despite a rapidly changing economy and growing labour shortages, 60% of employers report that school leavers lack the core employability skills needed to thrive at work such as communication, resilience and problem-solving. The report finds that fewer than half of young people say they feel confident in their skills and just 34% feel their school helped them to develop them. 

Barclays, which banks over a million UK businesses, draws on over a decade of experience through its flagship LifeSkills programme. LifeSkills has reached millions of young people and is now used in over 94% of UK secondary schools. It provides practical tools and training to help students build essential work-ready capabilities. 

Kirstie Mackey OBE, Managing Director of Citizenship UK & Europe at Barclays, said: 

“Businesses are crying out for young people who are not only academically qualified but also resilient, adaptable and confident. Core employability skills are no longer a ‘nice to have’ they’re essential. LifeSkills has shown us that these abilities can and should be taught, and now is the moment for policy to catch up.” 

The Workforce Ready report proposes five key policy changes, including embedding employability skills into the national curriculum, reforming Ofsted’s inspection framework to assess work readiness, and using pupil premium funding to support disadvantaged students with tailored skill-building support. 

The report also highlights the particular challenges faced by disadvantaged young people, who often lack the confidence, support, and extracurricular opportunities to develop these vital skills. Without intervention, they risk being left further behind. 

Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition, welcomed the report’s findings and called for cross-sector action: 

“Barclays is absolutely right to highlight the importance of employability in education. The life chances of too many young people are still dictated by their postcode. Equipping every student with the skills and confidence to succeed in work is one of the most powerful levers we have to drive social mobility and boost growth across the UK.” 

The report comes at a crucial time as the Government reviews its Curriculum and Assessment strategy and Ofsted inspection framework. Barclays’ hope is that its insights will inform and inspire systemic change. 

For more information and to read the full report, visit: https://home.barclays/insights/2025/05/work-ready-supporting-young-people-report/