All too often, young people’s futures are shaped not by their talent or hard work, but where they grew up or who they happen to know. This prevents many young people from achieving their potential – and blocks employers from connecting with fresh talent and new ideas.

That’s where Career Ready comes in, and where your organisation could make a real difference.

We’re a UK social mobility charity, and we believe every young person, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding career. Working with employers, volunteers, schools and colleges, we transform young people’s futures by equipping them with skills, experiences, support networks and insights to the world of work.

How it works

We work with young people who face a combination of barriers in education and employment, which may cause their talents to go undiscovered. Through our structured, high-quality programme, we connect young people with a mentor in the world of work, and a four-week paid internship at one of our employer partners. They also attend skills workshops and workplace visits.

The results speak for themselves:

• 95% of our alumni say their internship helped them develop skills which will be useful for their future career
• 90% felt more confident than they did before the programme
• 95% say they better understand how to behave in the workplace
• Read our latest impact report for more

Here’s what Career Ready student Isidore said about his experience:

“Before the programme I would say I was unsure of myself – not sure how to carry myself within an interview or a workplace. Now, I’ve gained confidence and a deeper understanding of myself and the professional world.

Career Ready is a truly life-changing experience.”

What’s in it for you?

It’s not just young people who benefit from Career Ready. It’s great for employee engagement, giving your people rewarding opportunities to volunteer and make a difference. 93% of our mentors said the programme also helped build their coaching and mentoring skills.

Here’s what Career Ready mentor, Mhairi had to say:

“The programme has allowed me to build on mentoring skills in a new way. You get to build up a great relationship with the young person and watch them flourish.

“Seeing my student deliver her final presentation with such confidence was such a rewarding moment.”

As an employer, it’s also an opportunity for you to shape future talent. Young people might not know what careers exist in your industry. By getting involved with Career Ready, you can share all your organisation has to offer. You might even meet a potential future employee.

How to get involved

We work with employer partners of all sizes and sectors in the UK, and we’d love to hear from you. To find out more, visit the Career Ready website and complete the contact form. We’ll be in touch.