PwC Sponsors Leadership Unleashed as Nearly One Million Young People Remain Outside Work and Education

3rd March 2026

Business, civic and education leaders gather this Thursday at Showroom Sheffield to explore what good leadership really looks like

Business, civic and education leaders gather this Thursday at Showroom Sheffield to explore what good leadership really looks like

PwC UK has confirmed its sponsorship of Leadership Unleashed, a cross-sector leadership event taking place this Thursday from 1–6pm at the Showroom.

The event comes as newly launched PwC analysis on Women in Work examines why over 946,000 young people aged 16–24 in the UK are currently NEET – not in education, employment or training – representing 12.7% of the youth population. In simple terms, nearly one in eight young people is disconnected from work or study.

Both male and female NEET rates have increased since 2023 and remain elevated. Over 25% of economically inactive young people cite temporary or long-term sickness as the primary reason for being out of work. But crucially, a one-size-fits all approach will not work and support needs to be targeted e.g. at post-16 progression pathways for women, and mental health support for men. 

PwC’s latest analysis shows that bringing NEET levels back to 2021 lows could add £3 billion to UK GDP, with further gains possible if the UK matched leading European nations.

PwC’s research makes clear that the scale of youth economic inactivity presents both a serious challenge and a significant economic opportunity. Young people are ambitious and motivated, yet many face structural barriers linked to health, skills and access to opportunity; risk factors that compound if not addressed early.

Sponsoring Leadership Unleashed allows PwC to bring this evidence and analysis into live conversations with leaders who have the ability to act and galvanise efforts to support young people in Sheffield. In a break from traditional conference formats, Leadership Unleashed will not treat youth unemployment as a slide presentation but be led by the lived experiences of young people to ender systemic change.

PwC’s workforce analysis will be brought to life by young people sharing their lived experience of navigating unemployment today. Leaders will hear directly what it feels like to apply for jobs without response, manage mental health challenges and face systems that can feel closed.

More than 120 senior figures from business, education and local government will then be asked a simple question: what will you do differently to create real pathways into work?

The aim is to move the issue from statistics to shared responsibility.

Louisa Harrison-Walker OBE, Chief Executive of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Youth employment is not a single-sector issue. Employers, educators and civic leaders all have a role to play. Leadership Unleashed creates space for honest discussion and shared responsibility, which is exactly what is needed if we are to support the next generation effectively.”

Katz Kiely, CEO beep and Creative Director of Leadership Unleashed , added:

“It is easy to see statistics as just figures. Nearly one million young people can become an abstract headline. We are doing something different. We are bringing young people into the story to breathe life into the data, so leaders feel the reality behind the numbers and can think together about what they can do to improve things.”

Youth employment is one of several urgent themes we will explore as we ask a bigger question: what does good leadership really look like in today’s world? If leadership is about responsibility for the whole system, then this conversation belongs to all of us.”

Leadership Unleashed is designed to challenge traditional models of leadership. Rather than keynote speeches and passive listening, the afternoon is built around short, honest stories and collective discussion that bring leaders into conversation with each other.

Louisa added:

“We have 120 leaders in one room. That is more than an audience. It is influence. If we can create a space where leaders are willing to listen, reflect and act together, we can start to shift how decisions are made across our city and beyond. Our ambition is simple: to redefine what good leadership looks like and ensure it delivers for the next generation.”

Leadership Unleashed takes place on 5 March 2026 from 1pm to 7pm at the Showroom in Sheffield. Tickets are available now: https://www.scci.org.uk/events/leadership-unleashed-050326/