EY Foundation supports record number of young people transition into employment
Figures released in today’s (27 Nov) “EY Foundation Impact Report: Looking to the future” demonstrate how the independent charity has supported over 4000 young people and social entrepreneurs in a 12-month period – an increase of over 150% on last year.
EY Foundation also spread its impact by moving into three new locations in Liverpool, Stoke and Wolverhampton.
Its two flagship programmes – Smart Futures and Our Future – supported young people who qualify for free school meals.
97% of the students taking part received a Chartered Management Institute Level two adult qualification, an increase of 5% on last year.
Delivering four programmes, the charity supports young people facing barriers to securing fulfilling employment and social entrepreneurs to grow their business. By connecting young people to the world of work, the Foundation helps employers to engage diverse, untapped talent with the skills and experience they need.
From July 2018 to June 2019 the charity worked with 35% more employers, taking the total to 322 and programme delivery was made possible through the support of over 3400 volunteers.
Maryanne Matthews, EY Foundation Chief Executive, said:
‘The last year marked our fifth anniversary – a moment to look back at what we have achieved, but also a time to look to the future and find new ways to increase our impact. With almost 800,000 young people not in education, employment or training, this is not a time to stand still.’
Jack, a young person who took part in the Our Future programme, said:
‘I used to be very shy, very nervous and not open to new experiences – that all changed after being on the Our Future programme. Looking to the future, my career hopes are to progress within the construction sector. Without the EY Foundation I would not have believed in myself and I wouldn’t have recognised my potential to have a successful career.’
Mark Roberts, from the Government Commercial Service, said:
‘We fully embrace the importance of building a diverse workforce that represents all parts of society. The EY Foundation, through the Smart Futures programme, employability workshops and new Young Men’s Network, has provided a brilliant way for us to better understand the needs of young people from low-income backgrounds and the barriers they face to joining the civil service.’
Patrick Dunne, EY Foundation Chair, said:
“Helping young people to be more employable is only half the story. The Foundation builds employability skills, but it also supports young people into employment by working with both sides of the labour market. It is through scaling up our relationships with employers that we will achieve sustainable, long-term impact.’
Headline impact across four programmes:
- Smart Futures is a ten-month employability skills and work experience programme. Participants reported a 28% increase in confidence following the programme.
- Our Future supports young people who face significant barriers to entering the labour market. 26% of students said their presentation skills improved because of the programme.
- Accelerate helps social enterprises to grow and thrive, increasing their impact on local economies and affecting social change in support of young people. 93% of entrepreneurs said they increased turnover after starting the programme
- Employability workshops introduce young people to a range of careers, employability skills training and the chance to meet local employers. 95% of young people said they would recommend the programme to a friend.
Responses