Milburn Review

What is the Alan Milburn Review?

Alan Milburn Review was announced in 2025 to gain a better understanding of what is causing the NEET crisis, and the number of NEETs remains at a persistent level.

The Milburn Review is a  groundbreaking investigation into the causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16 to 24 year olds with a call for young people and a range of experts to come forward with their views.

NEETs (young people 16-24 years old who are Not in Education, Employment or Training).

The Milburn Review was officially launched on the 16th December 2025, with evidence to be raised by the 30th January 2026.

The Call for Evidence is open until 30 January 2026 and gives young people and their stakeholders the opportunity to shape Mr Milburn’s report and suggest life-changing solutions the government can bring forward. He is keen to canvas the views of anyone with experience of the issue – from young people themselves to their parents, football coaches and teachers.

He will take a radical, system-wide approach that matches the urgency of the task at hand.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) November 2025 NEETs data found 946,000 young people were currently classified as NEET, down from 948,000 in the previous quarter.

The November 2025 ONS NEETs figures show 946,000 young people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in July to September 2025, down from 948,000 in April to June 2025. This represents 12.7% of all young people, down 0.1 percentage points on the quarter and 0.5 percentage points year-on-year from 13.2%.

Who is on the Milburn Review Panel?

Gavin Kelly – Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation and previous Chair of the Resolution Foundation.

Rachel Perkins – Clinical psychologist with over 30 years’ NHS experience and former Mind Champion of the Year

Ruth Owen OBE – CEO of Leonard Cheshire and disability rights advocate

Shuab Gamote – Co-author of ‘Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old’ and educational equality advocate

Sir Charlie Mayfield – Former Chairman of John Lewis Partnership and Chair of Keep Britain Working review

Tracy Brabin – Mayor of West Yorkshire

Andy Haldane – President-Elect of the British Chambers of Commerce and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England

Ravi Gurumurthy – Group Chief Executive Officer at Nesta

Lisa O’Loughlin – Principal and CEO of East Lancashire Learning Group

Dr Jennifer Dixon – Chief Executive of the Health Foundation

Dame Louise Casey DBE – Social welfare sector expert.