In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Scott Parkin.

Scott is the Group CEO of the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), an award-winning global body with a mission to support the professionals who help others gain, progress in, and retain work. With nearly 35 years of experience across employment, skills, and social care, Scott has expanded the IEP's reach globally, establishing Centres of Excellence in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

In this episode, Scott explores the vital intersection of employability and skills development. He provides a masterclass on the art of supporting people into work, including:

1. Defining Employability: Scott defines it as the professional "art" of supporting individuals to gain the skills needed to be active in their local labour market.
2. Core Skills for Life: Discover the essential "soft" or "meta" skills that underpin success, including resilience, emotional intelligence, communication, and curiosity, and why these are just as critical as technical qualifications.
3. Early Intervention: Scott advocates for introducing employability and core skills support as early as Year 7 in schools to prevent young people from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
4. AI in Employability: A look at how AI is changing the sector, from reducing administrative burdens to coaching apps. Scott argues that AI should be used to free up time for more human connection, not replace it.

Scott offers a deeply human perspective on a sector that is critical to social and economic well-being. If you are interested in the future of work, skills development, and the power of human connection, this is a must-listen-to episode.

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: Scott Parkin FIEP FRSA

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