NOCN Group launches 1,000 Futures offering free employability courses to college learners

NOCN Group, the awarding organisation that owns the Construction Plant Competence Scheme, has launched 1,000 Futures, a campaign giving up to 1,000 learners at UK colleges and training providers free access to four short online employability courses.

The group announced the scheme on 12 November 2026. City College Plymouth, South Devon College and Pathway Group are among the first organisations to join, and NOCN said more than 300 learners were already set to take part.

Each participating learner gets one month's free access to four MicroLens courses: Writing Great CVs, Confident Job Applications, Interview Confidence and Time Management. NOCN said each course takes about 10 to 15 minutes, is completed online at the learner's own pace and carries an e-certificate on completion.

Tracey Patmore, Head of Products at NOCN Group, said: "Taking the next step into work can feel daunting. Through 1,000 Futures, we want to help learners build confidence in the practical skills that matter when writing a CV, applying for a job or preparing for an interview."

The courses

Writing Great CVs was already available when NOCN first announced its employability courses on 18 February 2026. That announcement also listed a course called Making Job Applications as coming soon.

In a post dated 20 July 2026, NOCN described MicroLens as its collection of practical online courses that can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes.

1,000 Futures sits within Be Ready, the framework NOCN launched on 26 August 2026 to support people through learning and career stages. According to NOCN, Be Ready has three stages: Ready to Learn, covering foundations such as English and maths, life skills and personal development; Ready to Work, which develops employability skills and workplace behaviours; and Ready to Grow, which supports progression through apprenticeships and upskilling.

NOCN said the campaign is continuing to welcome centres, and organisations can sign up through its Be Ready page. It will publish updates and case studies from participating learners and centres as the campaign progresses.

The NEET context

NOCN's announcement frames the scheme against sector discussion about young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Its Be Ready material cites Department for Education research that young people who were NEET at both 16 and 17 had an 82% likelihood of being NEET again between 18 and 21.

The Office for National Statistics estimates 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were NEET in April to June 2026, or 13.0% of the age group. That was up 30,000 on the year but down 30,000 on the quarter. Of those, the ONS estimates 393,000 were unemployed and 588,000 economically inactive.

The Department for Work and Pensions announced on 10 November 2025 an independent investigation into youth inactivity led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, saying about one in eight people aged 16 to 24 were NEET. The DWP also said the government's Youth Guarantee is intended to give every 18 to 21 year old the chance to earn or learn, backed by £90m for eight trailblazers across England.

Alan Milburn said: "We cannot stand by and let a generation of young people be consigned to a life without employment or prospects."

NOCN Group

NOCN Group describes itself as an international charity delivering skills solutions and says it is one of the largest awarding organisations in the construction sector globally. As well as owning CPCS, it has an Indian subsidiary, NOCN India Skills Foundation.

The group said 1,000 Futures is now under way, with more than 300 learners signed up against a target of 1,000.