Article: Highlights – 10 June Wednesday 10 June 2026 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email NEETs must: how investing in managers can help the youth unemployment crisis – and much more 10 June View all 2026 CMI Highlights It will come as no surprise that CMI has taken a keen interest in Alan Milburn’s report into the UK’s youth unemployment crisis and the plight of the country’s NEETs (those young people not in education, employment or training). Its release has certainly kept our chief executive, Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI, busy. Appearing on Times Radio, Ann highlighted a generation that has been “very badly affected by recent events, including Covid, the rise of social media and economic uncertainty” and backed Milburn’s assessment that the current system has “failed to adapt”. The report also prompted Ann to write to the editor of The Times. In the paper’s lead letter, Ann highlighted how the NEETs issue tends to be framed as a matter of getting young people into jobs, only for their subsequent fate to be left to accidental managers. She flagged the need for “investment on both sides of the interview table: in young people trying to enter work, and in the managers responsible for helping them succeed once they get there”. Improving vital signs Proper leadership training is needed across the economy. Take the NHS, where a more structured approach to management and leadership development would help to better support the workforce and their performance. CMI has collaborated with the Health Service Journal to explore how strong and consistent management and leadership can improve retention, technology adoption and productivity across the service – ultimately delivering better patient outcomes Of course, even managers who aren’t in training need new ideas to help them navigate complexity and lead with confidence. Petra Wilton, CMI’s head of policy and external affairs, co-authored an exclusive article in FE News on why management research matters today more than ever. Back to leadership and healthcare, and this week’s newsletter shines a light on our Apprentice of the Year, AstraZeneca’s Dr Hannah Bolt CMgr FCMI, a peptide pioneer who achieved high marks while breaking new ground in her pharmaceutical field. Elsewhere, our Chartered Manager of the Week, Amina Adetunji CMgr MCMI, shares her love of learning and how CMI gave her the ability to move from working as a carer to lecturing at BPP University in leading and managing in healthcare. Real gains Finally, on to another key factor defining the world of work today: AI. Our eye-opening new AI report, Artificial Intelligence; Real Leadership: The management imperative in AI adoption, reveals a stark gap between intention and reality in the UK’s adoption of the tech – and highlights how training can plug the gap. As Ann wrote in the foreword, throwing valuable resources at AI without backing it up with skilled managers is a “recipe for wasting time and money”. You can read a summary of the report in this week’s newsletter, where we also examine the phenomenon of shadow AI. As AI tools become second nature, employees are bringing them into the workplace whether organisations are ready or not. We share five pointers on how to embrace the benefits without exposing your business to risk. Another fantastic option: why not explore what our new Leadership for AI qualifications can do for you? Best, Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI Director of membership and professional development, CMI Image: CMI Like this article? Why not share it. Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email You might also like these posts on this topic: Topic: “Create clear boundaries”: tackling ‘shadow AI’ in your organisation As AI tools become second nature, here’s how to embrace the benefits without exposing your business to risk Read article Article Topic: From classroom to boardroom: Responsible Management Education for real-world turbulence As business challenges grow more complex, responsible management must move beyond theory into continuous, real‑world practice Read article Article Topic: “Professional development should not stop at operational competence” Professional recognition is earned through experience, reflection and a commitment to continuous improvement Read article Article Topic: People first: how leaders can make AI work for everyone Here’s how leaders can make sure AI empowers people and creates more meaningful work Read article Article Browse all posts Don’t miss out - get notified of new content Sign-up to become a Friend of CMI to recieve our free newsletter for a regular round-up of our latest insight and guidance. 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