Progressive Routes was an 18 month programme in Bath & North East Somerset that supported 16–25 year olds at risk of becoming not in employment, education or training (NEET), offering alternative routes into education, training and employment alongside confidence building and mental health support.

Partnerships and delivery

Progressive Routes was delivered in partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council, Little Lost Robot, and the Bath Rugby Foundation, with funding from the West of England Combined Authority. The programme ran for 18 months between April 2024 and September 2025, including a six month extension supported by £190,000 of additional funding.

Little Lost Robot provided a wide range of creative skills workshops in Radstock, alongside one to one support and mentoring. Young people were able to build portfolios and CVs, access wellbeing support, and take part in practical activities such as welding and metalwork, mural creation (including paid opportunities in collaboration with the regeneration team), music and sound projects, automation and robotics internships, puppet making, and protest fashion initiatives. The programme also offered youth space activities, university visits, residencies, work experience placements at Valley Fest, internships, and links to employers and further education.

Bath Rugby Foundation focused on youth support drop ins at its hub supporting young people to identify their next steps, CV writing, applications, interview preparation, and also offered three one week courses featuring employer visits, mock interviews, and celebration events. Bath Rugby Foundation coordinated a NEET Panel, bringing together partners to identify current challenges and explore sustainable solutions.

Key referral partners included the Department for Work and Pensions, YMCA, and Bath College, ensuring that young people at risk of becoming NEET were identified and supported. Engagement was tailored to offer flexible one to one support. A unique feature of the programme was the fast track pathway into hospitality roles through Bath Rugby’s bars.

NEET panel and wider collaboration

The NEET Panel engaged 16 local partners, conducted research, and facilitated quarterly discussions to ensure a coordinated approach. Activities included identifying barriers and solutions, running youth voice surveys to capture perspectives, and supporting working groups such as Youth Getting the Best (YGTB). Collaboration with WECA, DWP, and the University of Bath helped shape local NEET strategy and funding decisions. The panel also shared best practice, developed toolkits and provision maps, and strengthened relationships between service providers, education institutions, and employers to enhance support pathways.

Key challenges identified included educational barriers (with demand for flexible, practical learning pathways), social and emotional factors such as mental health and confidence, transport and accessibility issues in rural areas, and the importance of trusted adults and mentoring networks.

Outcomes and impact

Over the course of the programme, 102 young people were supported. Of these:

• 67 socially excluded young people accessed support
• 36 were supported to develop basic skills
• 39 took part in work experience programmes
• 15 engaged in volunteering opportunities
• 63 achieved increased employability
• 48 sustained engagements through group activities or one to one support

More than 70% of participants achieved progression. This included 45 young people achieving a form of employment progression (including self employment, supported employment, increased working hours, or improved job security) and 17 achieving a form of training or education progression (including further or higher education, vocational training, or job related training).

To see the real impact of this work, take a look at the 'From volunteer to self employed coach' case study shared by the West of England Combined Authority.

Next steps

The programme highlighted the importance of enhanced data sharing between organisations to strengthen NEET interventions. Building on the success of Progressive Routes, we will continue to embed flexible, creative, and collaborative approaches to ensure that individuals of all ages can access the support they need to thrive.

The Employment & Skills Pod was a free support service in Bath and North East Somerset that helped residents aged 18+ who are unemployed or seeking new opportunities with tailored advice, training, and guidance to get back into work or upskill.

Next steps

The Employment & Skills Pod has now evolved into Skills Connect, a refreshed service that continues to support residents with training, employment, and career development opportunities. You can explore the updated program and access resources directly through Skills Connect Bath & North East Somerset.