Education, employment and training (EET)

Information about employment, education or training, and advice on getting support and finding out about your options if you are not in employment, education or training (NEET).

What EET means

EET stands for ‘Education, employment or training’.

EET is most often used in relation to young people aged between 16 – 24 years old. Young people up to the age of 16 are required by law to be in full time education, and those between the ages of 16-18 are required to participate in some form of education, training or employment with training.

People are considered to be in education or training if any of the following apply:

  • they are enrolled on an education course and are still attending or waiting for term to start or restart
  • they are doing an apprenticeship
  • they are on a government-supported employment or training programme
  • they are working or studying towards a qualification
  • they have had job-related training or education in the last four weeks

What NEET means

NEET is most often used in relation to young people aged between 16 – 24 years old who are not in any form of education, training or employment.

A person identified as NEET will always be either classed as ‘unemployed’ or ‘economically inactive’:

  • ‘Economically inactive’ means someone who is not in employment, but who does not meet the internationally accepted definition of unemployment, because they have not been seeking work within the last four weeks and/or they are unable to start work in the next two weeks.
  • ‘Unemployed’ means people without a job, who have been actively seeking work within the last four weeks and are available to start work within the next two weeks

How to get support if you are NEET

South Gloucestershire Council are committed to reducing the number of young people who are not in any form of education, employment or training.  The Council recently launched the Works4Youth offer, which supports young people experiencing difficulties finding the right opportunity. The team can be contacted directly through the Works4Youth website.

If you or your child are NEET, or at risk of becoming NEET, the following resources may be useful to you:

The South Gloucestershire Post 16 Directory contains information to help you make decisions about your next phase of education or training.

The Further education (post 16) and Work experience, traineeships apprenticeships articles contain further information about options and support available.

Gov.uk also has information on support available if you are aged 18 – 24 and out of work.