Level of motivation
Previous work experience
Work-readiness skills
Youth-friendly employers and recruitment processes
Availability of jobs in the area
Skills relevant to the job
Government policy / legislation
The qualifications achieved
Access to transport
Source: Independent Report - Young People and Work (Alan Milburn, 2026).
Young people at risk of becoming NEET face an experience paradox: they need experience to secure work, but struggle to gain that experience without first being given an opportunity. Traditional work placements can only go so far, constrained by employer capacity, safeguarding requirements and the administrative burden of supporting young people in the workplace.
This is not an abstract statistic to us. Through our work with local charity and community organisations, we have seen talented young people lose confidence as they become NEET while their peers move into further education, apprenticeships and employment.
StintAgents breaks this cycle by giving young people a safe, realistic way to demonstrate what they can do. Candidates work through AI-simulated workplace scenarios, using the tools and workflows associated with a specific job role, while their decisions and completed tasks create an auditable record of their capabilities.
StintAgents is one of the winners of the TechLocal competition, funded by Innovate UK and delivered through the TechFirst programme. StintAgents will run a structured pilot in West Yorkshire in partnership with the Staffordshire Black Business Network, supporting young people aged 16 to 24 at risk of NEET status, with targeted outreach to communities with no recourse to public funds. Success from the pilot will be replicated in Staffordshire.
StintAgents combines technical innovation, responsible AI governance and local delivery expertise.
Reforward AI LtdProject Lead
Oluseyi leads development of the agent and simulation modules. He brings extensive expertise in applied AI and machine learning, spanning data science, natural language processing, multi-agent systems and regulated Software and Artificial Intelligence as Medical Devices (SaMD/AIaMD).
Staffordshire Black Business NetworkPartner Lead, Community/Employer Engagement
Tolu brings more than a decade of experience in education, entrepreneurship, strategy and inclusive economic development. A Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. He leads community, employer and stakeholder engagement across the consortium.
Anglia Ruskin University (DProf Researcher)West Yorkshire Delivery and AI Safety Lead
Felicia leads delivery in West Yorkshire. A cyber security risk leader, helping young people at risk of NEET status to access digital work experience. Champions a grassroots women and girls' empowerment initiative in Leeds, driving community impact and inclusive opportunity.
