Building an immediate talent pipeline on World Youth Skills Day
On August 1st, the new Level 2 Administration Assistant Apprenticeship standard goes live. Designed specifically for the under-25 demographic, this 12-to-15-month programme is built around highly transferable skills.
In this piece, we outline why apprenticeships like these align well with the core ethos of World Youth Skills Day: driving sustainable growth by investing in the practical talents of tomorrow.
World Youth Skills Day
Every year on World Youth Skills Day (15th July), the global conversation focuses on equipping young people with the tools they need for the future of work.
The United Nations’ 2026 theme, ‘Skills for a Shared Future’, highlights a critical reality. As automation, digital transformation, and social complexity accelerate, young people need more than just technical capabilities. They require adaptable, human-centric skills that allow them to build resilience and navigate rapidly changing workplaces. In our recent AI Readiness Report, employers ranked communication and collaboration as their number one priority (50%) followed by adaptability (45%), whilst 97% of HR professionals said soft skills are now more important than ever.
Employers face an immediate, practical question: How do we balance these long-term global goals with today’s operational demands?
The role of work-based learning
The UN acknowledges that despite improvements in global youth employment, systemic challenges remain. One in five young people globally is currently classified as NEET (not in employment, education, or training), which may be because their current pathway does not support these outcomes without targeted intervention. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) - including apprenticeships - serves as a vital tool to reduce these barriers to entry.
Administrative roles are uniquely positioned to help. Why? Because administrative efficiency is the baseline of any organisation across the public, private, and third sectors.
By training apprentices in roles such as data clerks, office assistants, business support, and receptionists, businesses give young people a highly transferable foundation. Because these skills are universally applicable, this entry-level standard serves as a natural stepping stone. Over time, these individuals build the institutional knowledge required to progress into specialised corporate pathways, like project management, HR, or marketing.
The mechanics
The 2026 World Youth Skills Day agenda emphasises a balanced set of skills, combining digital proficiency with human qualities like communication and adaptability. The Administration Assistant apprenticeship curriculum addresses these areas through a hybrid model.
For example, a common query among employers is how the balance between workplace contribution and training is maintained. The programme structure is designed to be highly structured yet minimally disruptive:
Off-the-job training: 6 hours per week.
Independent learning: 1–2 hours per week.
Practical application: The remainder of the working week is spent on-site, embedding skills directly into your workflows.
A flexible approach to skills development
To maximise skills development amongst young people, it's important not to limit engagement to the academic calendar. In the Administration Assistant programme, for example, flexible start dates mean that organisations are not restricted to a particular point in the year.
Employers looking to utilise this standard can prepare by identifying routine administrative bottlenecks that currently pull senior staff away from other tasks.
Building a shared future
Building a ‘shared future’ starts with the opportunities we create today. At Pearson, we are committed to creating high-quality learner-centred pathways that bridge the gap between education and employment. We’re excited to be incorporating this standard into our growing portfolio.
Administration Assistant standard - technical details at a glance:
- Duration: 12–15 months
- Target age: Under 25s
- Functional skills: English and maths are integrated for 16–18-year-olds who require them (optional/agreed for ages 19+).
- Availability: From 1 August 2026.
Explore Pearson’s apprenticeship assessment support or read about our apprenticeship training offer with Pearson TQ.