Employers work with us because too many young people grow up unaware of the wide range of careers open to them.
By connecting employees with schools – where they talk with students about their jobs and career journeys – organisations help broaden young people’s horizons, support social mobility and help build the future workforce.
The result is simple: you improve young people’s life chances and benefit your organisation.
Young people can only aspire to what they see
What limits many young people is that their ambitions are shaped by what they see around them. If that is restricted to what their parents do, or what they see on social media, their understanding of the world of work can be very narrow.
As a result, many young people aspire to a very limited number of careers.
| 50% of children aspire to just 10 jobs |
(Insert Top 10 jobs graphic)
Many of these jobs do not reflect the full range of opportunities available – or the needs of the economy.
When young people are unaware of the range of careers available, they can struggle to find opportunities that match their ambitions. This contributes to young people leaving education without clear direction and ending up Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
What young people need
Young people benefit from hearing directly from people doing the actual jobs.
When they do meet people from different sectors and backgrounds, it helps them:
- understand the diverse range of jobs that exist
- see how education connects to future opportunities
- aspire to roles they may never have considered for themselves
These encounters challenge stereotypes about who can do different jobs, broaden children’s horizons, and raise young people’s aspirations beyond what they see around them. They get to meet people like Roselyn, Andy, Katie and Rachel below:
When this happens, more young people pursue careers where there is real demand, helping reduce the number who become NEET.
Ways your organisation can get involved
1. Invest in your employees
Supporting your employees to volunteer as a role model in schools is a powerful way to invest in your workforce and make a real difference to young people.
Employees who volunteer develop skills such as communication, confidence and leadership whilst also gaining new perspectives from working with students.
Insert CIPD research
Our research – carried out in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) – found that volunteering in schools leads to:
- greater work satisfaction and employer loyalty
- improved communication, influencing and leadership skills
- increased motivation and productivity at work
- enhanced personal wellbeing
Get your organisation involved in volunteering
We’re looking for volunteer role models from all professions and levels – from apprentices to CEOs. Your employees can inspire young people – and often by giving just an hour or two of their time.
When you commit to working with us, we provide full guidance and support, including free promotional materials to share your vision and encourage employees to volunteer.
Register your organisation here to get your employees involved
2. Funded partnerships and campaigns
We work with employers across the country to run campaigns and partnerships that support business objectives and social value goals, making a significant difference to young people’s futures.
This might include:
- investing in your local community to improve social mobility
- working with schools in specific underprivileged areas
- introducing girls to traditionally male-dominated careers
- raising awareness of your sector to help build the future workforce
Programmes vary and can include in-person events in schools, virtual events with multiple schools that give incredible reach, mentoring programmes, work-place visits and much more.
We work with you to define your goals, and provide a flexible solution to meet both your aims and your budget.
insert visuals of example campaigns you can click through to – mix of sector specific / region specific / underprivileged
Our team includes many former teachers who understand how schools work and how to engage young people effectively. With over 15 years of experience, we manage the programme and support your organisation throughout.
Our digital platform and reporting systems enable us to track participation, measure impact and provide clear reporting on outcomes.
Insert partnership stats
- national school network reach
- number of employers involved
- number of young people reached
Research backed stats added here – increased motivation / achievement
CTA button here?
Why employers partner with us
Working with us helps organisations inspire young people while supporting business priorities such as employee development, social value and nurturing future talent.
Reach schools (and children) across the UK
Access over 11,500 UK schools, reaching diverse urban and rural communities.
Develop employee skills
Volunteering helps strengthen key workplace skills such as communication and leadership.
Simple to deliver
Our team manages the programme and supports your employees, making it simple for your organisation to take part.
Build your future talent pipeline
Early engagement helps shape careers perceptions, strengthening your future talent pipeline and building interest in your industry.
Support CSR and ESG goals
Draw on our vast experience and track record of engaging over 4 million young people.
Drive social mobility
Our evidence-based programmes are backed by compelling research and recognised internationally for their contribution to social mobility.
Find out more about our employer partnership offers by contacting one of our team:
Victoria Lawrence
Employer and Business Development Manager
