Report

Broken ladders

Think tank: EDSK

Author(s): Tom Richmond; Andrew Bailey

December 8, 2023

This report from UK think tank EDSK explores why the ‘ladder of opportunity’ is broken for so many young people and how to fix it.

The academic pathway from school up to university is a well-trodden and well-understood route.

In contrast, for those young people who do not attend university, the first rungs on the ‘ladder of opportunity’ are broken after two decades of neglect and underinvestment.

Urgent action is now required to ensure that all young people, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, can progress towards a good-quality job or apprenticeship.