With two weeks to go, Leeds International Festival of Ideas has revealed the final additions to its programme, completing LIFI Futures, its expanded programme for young people.

Wed 7th Oct 11:30am-12:30pm Rock Void

Why does no one talk about apprenticeships?

Practical skills are more valuable than ever, yet apprenticeships are still widely misunderstood. What exactly is an apprenticeship? How do you get one? And can it really lead to a well-paid, rewarding career?

More young people than ever are choosing degree apprenticeships to get higher-level qualifications without the university debt – but there’s still plenty of confusion about what apprenticeships actually involve.

Join this expert panel as they bust the myths, answer questions, and reveal why landing an apprenticeship across a huge range of professions could be a smart alternative to school or university.

Host: Larry Budd
Laura Collins
Libby Morgan
Kelly-Marie McAllistair
Paula Willoughby

Thurs 8th Oct 11am-12pm

LIFI Futures: What No One Told You About Getting A Job?

In conjunction with Luminate Education Group

Roughly 1 in 8 young people in the UK are now classed as NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) – one of the worst rates in Europe. As tackling the issue continues to be a top government priority, this event asks why getting a foot on the career ladder is so hard today and who is really to blame.

Have young people switched off? Are there fewer jobs? Or is the education system just not delivering the right skills? Join this panel of employers and training experts as they unpick a disjointed system and offer practical ways to build a better, more positive route from school into work.

Host: Rima Ahmed
Mushy Asghar
Kathryn Curran
Nad Ghani
Kate O’Connell
Katie Rankin

Both events are free for schools and colleges, and both sit alongside Rachel Riley’s Is maths the root of everything? and the identity panel, How to be unapologetically you?, to make up four LIFI Futures events across the week. The full programme, from 6 to 10 October at Leeds Playhouse, is now live on the website.