A new approach to employability represents a breakthrough in supporting young people to successfully transition from school into today’s fast-changing labour market, according to new research from the Institute for the Future of Work, in partnership with the EY Foundation.

- Supporting young people to develop internal and intrinsic motivation supports the human-centric skills that are vital in a labour market transforming rapidly due to new technologies.

- The intervention improves receptivity for other inputs such as careers guidance and skills programmes, meaning that these inputs don’t ‘bounce off’.

- Motivation can decline over time, but it can be strengthened through targeted interventions, with early results showing meaningful impact.

These interventions can be introduced at scale and low cost, making them suitable to embed within existing training, education and employment programmes – and fit very well with priorities identified in the Schools White Paper released this week.

Findings from the research reveal that preparing young people to thrive in the workplace must go further than traditional, top-down skills training. Instead, it shows the importance of developing internal forms of motivation – a critical but often overlooked factor in unlocking young people’s potential and future success.

Three interconnected reports introduce:

- A comprehensive overview of the importance of motivation, and of the current landscape of careers guidance, with international comparisons. (https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64d5f73a7fc5e8a240310c44/699eea37bbef81952d17a0f8_EMBARGOED - Final Report - Channelling Motivation - 25th Feb.pdf)

- A detailed working paper, analysing the results of a pilot intervention deployed to young people from low-income backgrounds. (https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64d5f73a7fc5e8a240310c44/699ef47e3d0679f0ef56b437_EMBARGOED - Working Paper - Channelling Motivation Pilot Intervention - 25th Feb.pdf)

- A practical framework to help teachers and others supporting young people deploy the findings of this research. (https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64d5f73a7fc5e8a240310c44/699eea37866cf58c872a373a_EMBARGOED - Framework -Channelling Motivations - 25th Feb.pdf)

There is also a policy brief summarising this work here. (https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64d5f73a7fc5e8a240310c44/699eea36a3201e91f5501bcd_EMBARGOED - Policy Report - Channelling Motivation - 25th Feb.pdf)

The approach closely aligns with current UK government priorities: it reinforces the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and the new Schools White Paper.

The work will be launched at a webinar on 26th February, with a panel featuring Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE (CEO of Stemettes), Frank Bowley (Deputy Director – Skills England), David Gaughan (Director of Employment and Skills (interim) at West Midlands Combined Authority), and Peter Swallow MP (Education Select Committee).

Webinar: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1981408816107?aff=oddtdtcreator

In more detail:

The intervention piloted as part of the research found that young people who took part in the intervention reported significantly greater self-reported motivation related to school or work, with a 20–35% improvement compared with the control group.

The findings demonstrate how the development of internal and intrinsic motivation can build young people’s sense of purpose, confidence and agency, helping them pursue opportunities that genuinely reflect their interests and values and improving engagement and outcomes in education and employment.

Although young people have the potential and ambition to succeed, navigating the transition from education to employment remains challenging for many – and is only becoming more so as AI and automation technologies are adopted.

Crucially, the research suggests that this approach could help address the persistent challenge of the rising numbers of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), and growing skills shortages.

To help drive adoption, the report includes a practical toolkit for educators, employers and policymakers to integrate motivation-based training into current systems – helping to shape a more inclusive and future-ready labour market.

Speaking about the research:

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MMBE, CEO of Stemettes, said:

“Technology is rapidly changing the world of work, and it is vital that we intentionally construct equitable transitions for young people from school and training into careers. This brilliant research sets out a new architecture for these pathways. Also clear from this research is the critical driver of motivation, and its significant potential to help address the major challenge of supporting young people from low-income backgrounds into good work.”

Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, said:

“Many young people who are at risk of becoming NEET have the potential to thrive and are motivated to succeed, but they need support to channel their motivation towards a future of good work. These important reports show why we must look beyond narrow ‘skills fixes’ and recognise the role of motivation, self-belief and agency in helping young people navigate the transition from education into training and employment. A more reflective approach to careers guidance focused on nurturing young people’s motivations and passions would help them to access opportunities that are available - whether that’s training, apprenticeships or further learning and help ensure every young person has a fair chance to succeed.”

John Yarham, CEO of the Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

“At The Careers & Enterprise Company, we are driven to enable every young person to find their best next step. This important new research highlights the vital role of intrinsic and internalised forms of motivation in empowering young people. We are excited to explore how these findings can inform our initiatives and partnerships, ultimately helping to create better outcomes for young people.”

Lynne Peabody, CEO of the EY Foundation, said:

“We know young people are determined to succeed. Over more than eleven years of delivering programmes, I’ve seen the transformational impact when a young person from a low-income background is shown that careers they once felt were out of reach are possible for them. It is exciting to see this research translate those insights into a training model that could benefit young people everywhere.”

Earlier research from the Institute for the Future of Work and the EY Foundation also highlighted the crucial role motivation plays in supporting young people from lower-income backgrounds to access good work, particularly in the context of ongoing AI-driven labour market change.

You can find the earlier research here. (https://www.ifow.org/publications/motivating-futures)

David Gaughan, Director of Employment and Skills at West Midlands Combined Authority (Interim), said:

“In the West Midlands, we recognise the urgent need to support our young people as they navigate the challenges of entering the workforce, especially in a time of rapid technological change. The early findings from the pilot intervention are encouraging, showing the potential of motivation-based training to improve outcomes for young people. As a pilot region for the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, we want to explore innovative and evidence-based solutions that enhance the support we provide, ensuring every young person has the chance to thrive in the changing labour market."

END

Notes for Editors:

IFOW

IFOW is an independent research and development institute dedicated to transforming working lives for the better, co-founded by former employment barrister Anna Thomas MBE, Nobel prize-winning economist Sir Christopher Pissarides, and technologist Naomi Climer CBE.

The EY Foundation

The EY Foundation is a UK-registered charity that works directly with young people, employers and social entrepreneurs to create or support pathways to education, employment or enterprise.

The Reports launching on 26th February will be hosted here. (ifow.org/channellingmotivations )

Media contacts:

team@ifow.org / kester@ifow.org

Emma.Dixon.Lim@eyfoundation.ey.com

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