Nottingham College officially launched its Castle Meadow campus today 22 April – home to its King’s Trust, Next Gen and Thrive employability programmes, supporting the national focus on getting Britain working and reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The launch event opened with speeches from Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, and Janet Smith, Principal and CEO of Nottingham College, and welcomed more than 30 guests. Attendees included representatives from key partner organisations: Nottingham City Council, King’s Trust, the Youth Guarantee, 4Bs (Breaking Barriers Building Bridges), Bestwood Partnership, Futures and Base 51. The event also provided an opportunity for guests to meet and hear directly from the young people who are already benefiting from the programmes delivered at Castle Meadow.
In September 2025, the college was selected to lead a regional collaboration of further education providers to deliver the Government’s Youth Guarantee pilot, in partnership with Nottingham City Council. The programme supports young people aged 18–21 who are currently classed as NEET. Following a successful first year, the pilot has now been approved to continue into year two.
In Nottingham, an estimated 2,500 to 4,000 16-to-24-year-olds are currently NEET. The aim of these short courses is to reach young people who need a different route, a second chance, the opportunity to re-engage with their skills for learning, and the right support at the right time.
Working in partnership with East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and other local partners, these programmes are responding directly to local skills needs, with a focus on delivering economic prosperity and social mobility for all.
As part of the Youth Guarantee’s Thrive programme, each young person benefits from an individualised learning pathway, with smaller class sizes, flexible timetables and a dedicated key worker acting as their ‘life champion’. This personalised approach aims to address many of the complex barriers faced by young people, including mental health challenges, special educational needs, homelessness, caring responsibilities and low prior attainment.
Kalman McIntyre completed both the King’s Trust course and the Youth Guarantee Next Gen programme, securing employment as a direct result. He now balances two part-time jobs alongside volunteering at the college. He said:
“The courses were really beneficial to me. I realised that going into the world of work isn’t as hard as you might think, and I gained lots of valuable connections, tools and resources along the way.”
Rebecca Butcher, Assistant Principal for Student Support at Nottingham College, said:
“The demand for places at Castle Meadow shows both the scale of need in the city and the appetite among young people for a different route.
“These programmes truly reflect the college’s mission of unlocking potential through learning, with a strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and personal development. With tailored support in place, we’re helping students who are facing barriers to build confidence, develop vital skills and take positive next steps into work, further learning or apprenticeships.”
King’s Trust, Next Gen and Thrive are distinct employability programmes, but each focuses on building confidence, developing essential life and work skills, and supporting progression into further education, apprenticeships or employment. Content includes a structured personal development programme covering CV writing and interview preparation, problem-solving, team building, food budgeting and nutrition skills, alongside workplace tasters to help young people explore future career pathways.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said:
“The opening of Castle Meadow is a powerful example of what the Youth Guarantee is designed to do – supporting young people with a clear, practical route back into learning, skills and work, and the confidence to believe in their future again.
“Through EMCCA, we’re backing programmes like those offered at Nottingham College to break down barriers for young people who are not in education, employment or training – delivering the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
“I’m proud to see Nottingham College help lead this work for our region, working with partners to turn ambition into action and create real, lasting opportunities for young people to move forward into work, further learning or apprenticeships.”
