Read our previous editions of Into the Weekend using the links below. 

Edition 1, Edition 2, Edition 3

Simon Renny is Director of Strategy and Research of NOCN Group.

Employability is often discussed as an outcome of learning, but not nearly enough as a deliberate and embedded part of it. In today’s skills landscape, that distinction matters more than ever. If we are serious about widening participation, improving productivity and supporting individuals into meaningful work, employability cannot be an add-on or an afterthought.

Across the UK, the labour market is changing at pace. Employers are navigating skills shortages, new technologies and the transition to a greener economy. At the same time, too many people remain disconnected from opportunity, particularly those who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs). This growing gap between people’s potential and opportunity is one of the defining challenges of our time.

At NOCN Group, we see employability as something broader than job readiness alone. It is about equipping people with the skills, confidence and adaptability they need to progress both into work and once in it. That means supporting individuals to build resilience, understand workplace expectations and develop skills that will remain relevant as roles and sectors evolve.

Rethinking how employability is delivered

Traditional education and training routes do not work for everyone. Many learners, particularly adults returning to learning or young people who have disengaged, need flexible and accessible pathways that recognise different starting points. Employability provision needs to meet people where they are, not where the system expects them to be.

That’s why modular, skills-based approaches are so important. Through the expansion of NOCN Group’s Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (SETPD) and employability qualifications and units, we are responding to what providers, employers and learners are telling us they need: flexible content that can be tailored, contextualised and delivered in ways that reflect real local and labour market needs.

These kinds of offers enable providers to build programmes that combine core employability skills with sector-specific learning, allowing individuals to see a clear line of sight between what they are learning and where it can take them.

Supporting those furthest from the labour market

For individuals who are NEET, employability support can be genuinely life-changing. Many face multiple and often intersecting barriers, from low confidence and mental health challenges to a lack of prior qualifications or work experience. A single intervention is rarely enough.

Meaningful employability provision provides structure, purpose and progression. It helps individuals rebuild confidence and re-engage with learning, often for the first time in years. Crucially, it also recognises success in stages, not just at the end point of sustained employment.

This is where partnership and social impact come into play. The NOCN Group Foundation exists to support this wider mission – investing in projects that help those furthest from opportunity to take their next step. Through its work, the Foundation supports innovative initiatives from our centres focused on NEET engagement, upskilling adults, and developing the green skills needed for the future economy.

Employability, green skills and the future workforce

As sustainability becomes a defining feature of economic growth, employability and green skills are increasingly intertwined. Learners need not only technical capabilities and digital skills, but also an understanding of how their work contributes to wider environmental and social goals.

Embedding these themes within employability provision helps individuals connect skills development with purpose. It also supports employers who are seeking a workforce that can adapt, innovate and think long-term. This alignment between employability, sustainability and progression will be critical as the skills system continues to evolve.

A shared responsibility

Ultimately, employability is a collective responsibility. Awarding organisations, providers, employers, funders and policymakers all have a role to play in shaping systems that are inclusive, flexible and focused on real outcomes.

At NOCN Group, our aim is to support that ecosystem with qualifications, insight and partnerships that put learners at the centre. When employability is embedded thoughtfully and intentionally, it does more than support individuals into work – it strengthens communities, addresses skills gaps and builds a more resilient future for everyone.