Cambridgeshire - Sam Squire, CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite CIC, has delivered a powerful TED Talk titled “It Takes a Nation to Raise a Child”, urging leaders, employers, educators and communities to unite behind a new social contract for young people.
Sam reframed the UK’s one million economically inactive 16–24-year-olds as unrealised potential rather than a crisis statistic, setting out practical steps to unlock their talent.
“One million. We hear the number so often it stops meaning anything,” Squire said. “They are not just numbers. They are Zayn, Amelia and Kyle. They have names and stories. What if NEET stood for Nurtured, Equipped, Empowered, Thriving - pretty neat, right?”
Watch the full talk here: https://youtu.be/8giWb2pBdds?si=DysbSs3ZewGwZKhF
From lived experience to national blueprint
Drawing on his own experience of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) after being released from a professional football contract at 18, Squire described how constraint can fuel creativity - a concept he credits to The Scavenger Mindset by Claire Richmond. He linked this to the collective effort of a beehive - thousands working together for the common good - as a model for how communities can help young people thrive.
“The hive thrives because they do it together,” he said. “That’s the scavenger mindset in action.”
He shared the story of “Kyle”, a young person who faced loss and homelessness but found stability and purpose through Inspire 2 Ignite, and of “Zayn”, a care-experienced young person held back by systemic barriers that penalise work. Squire used their stories to challenge assumptions and to call for systemic reform that values potential over labels.
A practical blueprint for change
Squire outlined two key ideas worth spreading:
- Community Activation Agents: trusted local connectors in every city, town and village helping each young person access education, training or employment.
- Accredited Lived Experience: digital badging that recognises skills gained through life, volunteering and community contribution, enabling employers to see potential beyond a CV.
He ended with a collective call to action:
“Think of one young person you can help and take one action this week. If we all did that, we wouldn’t just help one million thrive - we would change the state of our nation.”
Quote from Sam Squire, CEO, Inspire 2 Ignite CIC
“Young people do not lack talent - they lack opportunity, networks and belief. When a community opens the door, confidence follows and possibility becomes a plan. This is a national moment to move from labels to belonging, from statistics to stories, and from passive concern to active contribution.”
About Inspire 2 Ignite CIC
Inspire 2 Ignite is a Community Interest Company based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, that equips young people with the experiences, skills and networks to thrive - while removing barriers that limit access to education, employment and enterprise.
Its Engage, Inspire, Ignite, Activate model supports young people to move from disengagement to positive futures and helps employers build diverse early talent pipelines. Through Young Person Ready (YPR), Inspire 2 Ignite recognises and supports organisations that provide meaningful experiences and opportunities for 12–24-year-olds. The organisation also shares quarterly Gen Z insights to help employers attract and retain young talent.
Learn more: www.inspire2ignite.co.uk
Young Person Ready: www.inspire2ignite.co.uk/ypr
