The UK’s rate of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) is worsening with 872,000 recorded in 2024, according to the Youth Futures Foundation’s latest report. Two of the major issues affecting young people’s employment in 2024 are poor mental health and the state of the apprenticeship system.
ASDAN’s mission is to engage, elevate and empower learners with diverse needs and transform their future employability and independent living prospects through practical learning.
We offer a wide range of nationally recognsied, Ofqual-approved qualifications and informal programmes to better prepare learners to transition to the workplace and equip them with skills and resilience to thrive in their chosen career.
In our recent customer survey, 42% of ASDAN members stated that finding employment and work experience was one of the biggest challenges that learners face today.
We were pleased to see that members also rated employability skills as one of the top ten learner improvement areas as a result of engaging in ASDAN courses.
Below are a selection of ASDAN qualifications and programmes to develop the following skills to boost employability:
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Teamwork
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Independent learning
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Problem solving
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Research
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Discussion
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Oral presentation
ASDAN’s Employability qualifications supply the structure for learners to develop and recognise crucial employability skills.
Schools and academies with Key Stages 3 and 4, alternative education providers and training organisations can use the qualifications to accredit preparation for employment training, career education, enterprise education, work-related learning and work experience.
The Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1 qualifications are intended for those who are not yet ready for employment but for whom a job is a realistic aim within a reasonable timescale.
The Level 2 qualification aims to help learners develop employability skills within occupational settings, allowing them to build on their employability skills and acquire transferable skills that will help them progress in their current situation and in the wider world of work.
CoPE is ASDAN’s flagship qualification, popular amongst education settings nationwide. CoPE has been shown to boost learners’ motivation and self-esteem and is the ideal qualification to complement or replace GCSEs.
Learners produce a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their achievements within 13 modules, such as Communication; Vocational preparation and Work-related learning and enterprise. Learners must complete eight credits (80 hours) at Levels 1 and 2 and nine credits (90 hours) at Level 3.
The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness qualification is a larger qualification and offers progression from the Award of Personal Effectiveness.
Our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) was designed with special consideration about the benefits of work-based learning. The course provides a unique opportunity to build the project around a work experience placement, offering a clear line of sight to employment and training.
ASDAN’s EPQ is the only EPQ to offer a work placement model as part of its independent research project and it carries up to 28 UCAS points towards entry into higher education. Completing a work experience placement is widely recognised as an effective way of building the core competencies that help young people progress in the workplace.
ASDAN’s latest course, Moving On, is designed to equip young people preparing to leave care with the knowledge and skills to live independently as a young adult. Moving On consists of five journal books, which closely link to the key areas of care leaver pathway plan.
The Starting your career journal gives learners real-life examples and practical activities around further and higher education, training, exploring job opportunities, applying for jobs and being an employee. This module aims to help identify a learner’s goals and help them to action their next steps into a career.
Other useful Moving On journals to boost employability skills include Managing money and Relating to people.
ASDAN offers a wide range of engaging, interest-led and internally moderated Short Courses. These are flexible, portfolio-based programmes designed to accredit up to 60 hours of activity and skills development across a range of topics and curriculum areas.
Short Courses with an employability-focus include ASDAN’s Enterprise Short Course, Careers and Experiencing Work Short Course, Volunteering Short Course and the Leadership Short Course.
ASDAN also offers a range of vocational tasters, from the in the land-based sector to hospitality.
Get in touch to find out more about becoming an ASDAN member, or to speak to our team of education experts on which course is right for you.