14/01/2026
IEP Group CEO Scott Parkin FIEP recently appeared on The Assembly podcast’s final episode of 2025 for what host Adam Lacey, Co-Founder of Assemble You, said couldn’t have been saved for a better guest.
With nearly 35 years of experience across employment, skills, and social care, Scott has overseen the expansion of the IEP’s reach globally, establishing Centres of Excellence in the UK, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia. In this wide-ranging conversation, he shares his expertise on the vital intersection of employability and skills development, offering insights that are essential listening for anyone invested in the future of work.
This episode provides a masterclass on the art of supporting people into work, covering:
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.
Core Skills for Life: The discussion explores 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.
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).
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,” Adam Lacey said on LinkedIn.
“If you are interested in the future of work, skills development, and the power of human connection, this is a must-listen-to episode!”
Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ePFtY_TZ
Listen on Apple: https://lnkd.in/eQfVxRnY