A team from Westminster’s Centre for Employment Research (CER) collaborated with the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to evaluate whether self-employment can provide a route into work for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). The research, which was supported by Youth Futures Foundation, developed an intervention model to support NEET young people move into self-employment.
The flexibility of self-employment could offer an alternative path to earning for young people who struggle to find work, yet existing knowledge about how this can be achieved effectively is limited. To find out more, Westminster colleagues Professor Richard Dorsett, Dr Gerda Buchmueller and Dr Veruska Oppedisano led a project for Youth Futures Foundation which aimed to understand young people’s views and intentions.
The project explored how prevalent self-employment is as a career option, how self-employed young people get on in the labour market in comparison with employed and unemployed peers, and what the current barriers and enablers are to pursuing self-employment.
Through the collection and analysis of a range of data, including consultations with young people and employers, the team developed a programme of support targeted at young people exploring self-employment. The intervention aims to break down the common barriers to self-employment identified through the team’s research.
The research was initially inspired by the development of Zone29, Westminster’s new home for careers and enterprise, which aims to help individuals to increase their confidence in enterprise, digital and green skills.
About the project Professor Dorsett said: "For a variety of reasons, some young people may struggle to find paid employment. Self-employment can offer a potentially attractive alternative, offering flexibility, autonomy and the chance for personal reward."
This programme directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10: Reduced Inequalities and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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