James Ketchell, Britain’s first adventurer to circumnavigate the globe by land, air, and sea, has offered to involve young people struggling with employment in future expeditions as part of his efforts to inspire and support a generation at risk of being left behind. The 44-year-old motivational speaker and explorer, who recently completed a 34,175-mile solo sailing journey around the world in a 40-foot boat, urged young people to develop discipline and take proactive steps to improve their circumstances.

Ketchell, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, made history by completing global journeys via three modes of transport: cycling, gyrocopter, and sailing. He has already introduced young people to outdoor activities in places such as the Lake District and Wales, using these challenges to demonstrate how daunting objectives can be broken down into manageable parts. “Whether I’m climbing Mount Everest or we’re going for a walk up in the Lake District, it still requires the same thing – elements of discipline and pushing yourself. We all have to start somewhere,” he said.

His outreach comes amid rising concern over the 1.01 million young people aged 16 to 24 classified as NEETs—those not in education, employment, or training—in the UK. Ketchell emphasized the importance of taking small steps toward self-improvement, such as exercising regularly, reducing screen time, and adopting healthier habits. “If you’re feeling stuck, start moving, get some discipline, get up, move every day, start exercising. Look to control the things that you can control. Stop eating junk food. Stop scrolling through your phone,” he said. He acknowledged that while perfection was not necessary, consistent effort and surrounding oneself with positive influences were key.

Ketchell drew on his own experience of adversity in early adulthood, during which he faced job losses and uncertainty about his future. His perspective shifted following a serious motorbike accident in 2008 that left him with two broken legs and uncertain mobility. Facing the possibility that he might never walk again, he resolved to pursue a long-held dream of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. In 2010, he completed the solo crossing from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean in 110 days. Despite initially hoping to row with a partner, he undertook the challenge alone after no one else would commit.

Following that achievement, Ketchell climbed Mount Everest, even as he developed pneumonia, which was diagnosed upon his return to the UK. During his recovery, he reflected on the sense of purpose he had found through his expeditions. “I felt like I’d found something that gave me some kind of purpose,” he said.

Ketchell reiterated his willingness to involve young people in his adventures, stating, “I would absolutely take some young people away. If I can start to pull other people up, that’s a good thing, so that’s … what I’m aiming for.”