New Cross-sector Lab podcast episode: Youth Employment UK on what young people need to thrive

ASDAN has released a new episode of the Cross-sector Lab: reimagine education together podcast, featuring a conversation between ASDAN CEO Melissa Farnham, Amber Stamp-Dunstan, Education, Research & Innovation Coordinator at ASDAN, and Lauren Mistry, Deputy CEO at Youth Employment UK.

In this episode, Melissa, Amber and Lauren explore the 2026 Youth Voice Census and what young people need to thrive as they move through education and towards employment.

The conversation considers what successful work experience should look like for every young person, including the need for placements to be meaningful, well-prepared and connected to young people’s skills, confidence and next steps.

A key theme is the gap between the skills young people are developing and their ability to recognise, evidence and talk about those skills with employers. The episode explores how education, employers and wider systems can help young people translate their experiences into confidence, agency and opportunity.

Amber also shares ASDAN’s developing learner voice work, including ASDAN Champions, which celebrates learners’ achievements and recognises how practical, skills-based learning can support confidence, belonging and progression.

The discussion also reflects on the current policy focus on young people who are not in education, employment or training, and the importance of language, labels and listening to young people’s lived experiences. Melissa, Amber and Lauren consider how careers education, work experience and employer engagement can better support young people’s journeys into learning, work and life.

The episode, Youth Employment UK: 2026 Youth Voice Census and what young people need to thrive, is available to listen to on Spotify and a video of the discussion can be viewed on YouTube.

About the series

Cross-sector Lab: reimagine education together is ASDAN’s podcast series, hosted by CEO Melissa Farnham. The series brings together leaders, educators and changemakers from across education, policy, research and practice to explore how we can build a more inclusive and future-focused learning system.