This year’s CEO Summit brought together chief executives and other leaders of some of the UK’s largest organisations, youth outreach partners and young people who had gone through employability schemes found through Movement to Work. The aim of the discussions was primarily to explore the issues facing young people who need extra support to get on the career ladder.

The CEOs and leaders included those from Accenture, BAE Systems, Barclays, BT, Centrica, the Civil Service, Diageo, KPMG, Marks & Spencer, The Prince’s Trust, QA Learning, Tesco, UK Youth and Unilever, amongst others. Many of the young people now working in those organisations joined their leaders in the discussions.

There were four discussions: making the skills reform accessible for all, supporting all young people into employment, looking deeper into the labour market in a climate of skills shortages and for the next generation, every job will be a tech job.

Some of the principle themes resulting from these discussions will be of no surprise, for example, the quality of careers guidance in schools. There was unanimous agreement that this still wasn’t working. The Apprenticeship Levy was also criticised, with some pointing out that instead of helping young people onto entry-level apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship training, some of the Levy money had been diverted towards MBA training for existing executives!

It was apparent from the debates that many socially responsible employers who wanted to look deeper into the labour market were encountering difficulties in finding young people. This is despite so many young people wanting to find work, whilst the UK is suffering from a skills shortage, yet many young people who could be trained are unemployed. It was felt that regional and local government, who could do so much to help, are disconnected from the issue.

However, there was positive news, and this was how young people who have had extra challenges in their lives can become great employees, with huge talent and loyalty. And the young people at the discussions were great examples. There was much discussion of the value of mentorship, particularly around how these young people were able to influence positively other young people who were not obvious candidates for some roles.

Movement to Work believes that all the issues discussed are wholly addressable, and we are working towards this. Already we have arranged thousands of placements with over 50% of those completing them going onto jobs or back into education. We are writing to Government Ministers and others in order to provoke action to address as many of these issues as we can, and in some cases resolve some that have been with us for too many years. We will keep you informed of progress.

The Movement to Work Social Mobility Awards was a chance for us to recognise those organisations and individuals who had made the most of an opportunity and real difference to the life prospects of young people. There were many inspiring stories across the nominees and I would like to congratulate all of those shortlisted, the impact you are making is critical in providing deserved opportunities to young people across the UK.

The winners were chosen by a panel of young Movement to Work graduates across the 5 categories and each category is a key pillar in the success of Movement to Work.

Employer of the year recognises those employers going the extra mile to ensure that young people are getting the opportunity they deserve and importantly that leads into meaningful work.  The work of the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust exemplifies this and should be an inspiration to us all.

However we know the Movement to Work system works through collaboration and without the training providers and youth outreach organisations the employers cannot do their important work.  This award was nominated by employers to those youth charities that had made the biggest impact on them. The Princes Trust received multiple nominations and exemplified what great employer partnership looks like.

Then it comes to the individuals. We know that in order to drive change in a system committed individuals and pioneers are critical to lead the way.  Karen Marshall’s work at Accenture was a brilliant example of this driving the agenda with passion and bringing her organisation with her.

Our second individual award was for mentorship, a major theme of the awards.  We know that great mentorship is a key driver of lasting success for young people before placements, during placements and in the first year of work. Tracy-Jane Fielding at the Department for Work and Pensions has built this into how she delivers her programmes and personally made a significant impact to many young people in the Hyde area.

And finally the most importantly award of the evening, the Rising Star. Ultimately everything we do is in service of supporting young people into meaningful employment, providing them the opportunity to get on the career ladder and fulfil their potential through work. This award is a chance to showcase one of the thousands of young people who have seized that opportunity. Shajida, congratulations again a richly deserved award and we know you will continue to be an inspiration to young people across the UK.

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Award winners

Rising Star

A graduate of Movement to Work who has gone on from their placement to build a career, inspiring people across and beyond their organisation with their achievements

Shajida Akthar

Accenture

Software engineer

Shajida grew up in one of the most deprived areas in the country and because of little encouragement towards education and work she felt restricted in what she could do. After completing a Movement to Work placement, Shajida gained an apprenticeship at Accenture, graduating to become a software engineer and analyst working on significant projects.

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Charity of the Year Award

 Nominated by employers and awarded to the charity partner that has worked collaboratively with them to scale their impact and find new ways to support young people into employment.

The Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust listens to young people’s concerns in order to provide the best possible support. It helps 11 to 30-year olds who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their lives. Many are leaving care, facing homelessness or mental-health issues, or have been in trouble. Three in four young supported by Trust move to work, education or training.

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Movement to Work Employer of the Year Award

An organisation which has had a significant impact on young people in the UK, pioneering in its approach with a great environment

NUTH

NUTH’s Project Choice is offered to young people aged 16-24 in Newcastle with Learning Difficulties, Disabilities or Autism. The project is part of Health Education England’s programme to support the Widening participation agenda. To date 84% of the Trust’s Project Choice participants have transitioned into paid employment.

 

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Individual Impact Award

An individual who has shown outstanding commitment and contribution to Movement to Work through their organisation and beyond, championing its impact on diversity and inclusion, social mobility and recruitment

Karen Marshall

Accenture

Program & project management associate manager

Karen devised Accenture’s employability programme three and a half years ago. The programme is now well-established, supporting over 100 participants. Her total outreach and engagement activities have reached 15,000 students from schools, colleges and universities, as well as those not in education, employment or training each year.

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Mentor of the Year Award

Celebrating the crucial role that mentors play in supporting young people to fulfil their potential.

Tracy-Jane Fielding

Department for Work and Pensions

Movement to Work & Community Site Lead

Between 2017 and 2018, Tracy-Jane (TJ) mentored 29 young people, helping 20 into employment. TJ has completely transformed the lives of many young people who have taken up a Movement to Work placement at DWP. Her passion, empathy and commitment have been described as “outstanding” by her colleagues.

Government reaffirms the importance of Movement to Work

The Government was crucial to the foundation of Movement to Work in 2013 and at our recent awards reaffirmed the importance of the work we do together. Alok Sharma MP, Minister of State for Employment, who provided the keynote address at the event, pointed out that though youth unemployment has reduced we cannot be complacent. He said that he was determined to ensure that the Government makes further progress to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to benefit from a stable job.

He paid tribute to Movement to Work and you, our members, describing the really positive news that the 80,000 placements we have provided over five years has led to tens of thousands of young people getting opportunities in the workplace. He also highlighted the Government’s ongoing commitment as an employer, with thousands of placements having been completed in the Civil Service.

Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, shared with us her views on the importance of the work we do: “Giving a young person a chance, sometimes one of the few chances they may have been given, is often transformative. Doing this can lead to changes that have a lifelong impact, not just on the young person but on their communities too.” She urged all businesses and organisations to consider hiring more young people, saying that they are an “unrivalled source of fresh perspectives, unrivalled ambition and energy.”

Alok Sharma, Minister of State for Employment, pays tribute to Movement to Work and its partner employers for delivering skills and prospects to young people who need extra support to get on the career ladder

UK work-placement charity, Movement to Work (MtW), will announce at its annual

CEO Summit and Awards on 4 February 2019 that its employer members, including FTSE 100 companies and SMEs, have delivered 80,000 work placements over the last five years, for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

MtW is a collaboration of UK employers committed to tackling youth unemployment through the provision of high-quality work experience and other work opportunities. The 80,000 work placements have been made possible by employers, charities and Government working together through MtW. Collectively they have provided young people with diverse and empowering experiences ranging from hospitality to engineering.

The placement programmes lead to tangible results for young people with more than 50 per cent of those finishing placements going back to education or into employment.

The programmes delivered by the collaboration equate to an economic value to the UK of over £1bn[1] over the five-year period, with young people moving into employment no longer claiming benefits, paying tax and spending their pay.

Alok Sharma, Minister of State for Employment, said: “The overall UK employment rate is at an all-time high, with more people in work than ever before, and youth unemployment has almost halved since 2010.  But we cannot be complacent and I am determined to ensure that we make further progress to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to benefit from a stable job.

“The really positive news is that these 80,000 placements have led to tens of thousands of young people getting that opportunity in the work place and I pay tribute to Movement to Work and all the employers involved, who are joining together to deliver the skills set and work prospects which young people want.”

Ivan Menezes, chairman of Movement to Work and chief executive of Diageo, said: “We believe in the potential of all young people and know that by providing placements and other opportunities that lead to meaningful work, we can support young people to fulfil their potential. Meaningful employment is key to their wellbeing, enables them to contribute to their communities and brings prosperity to so many.

“This is not just the right thing to do for young people, it is the right thing to do for business. We are unlocking a pool of talent for our organisations, uncovering a loyal and motivated workforce and increasing current workforce engagement as they mentor these young people to succeed. We know that supporting young people works for them, for employers and broader society. Thankfully our employer members believe this too and have contributed to this incredible figure of 80,000 placements.”

Employers working with MtW have recognised that recruiting in this way makes both ethical and financial sense through lower recruitment costs, the enhanced loyalty of placement graduates, improved morale of existing staff and the ability to build in-house talent through training.

Employer members include Accenture, BAE Systems, Barclays, BT, BUPA, Centrica, the Department for Work and Pensions, Diageo, HSBC, IBM, Marks and Spencer, Marriott International, NHS, Tesco, Unilever and Wates, amongst others.

 

ENDS

 

Further information

David Pincott, PR and Government Relations, Movement to Work,

M: 07866 261198

E: david@movementtowork.com

Movement to Work (www.movementtowork.com)

 UK work-placement charity supports Youth Select Committee’s report into work placements

The Youth Committee’s Report, Realising the Potential of Work Experience, finds that despite work placements providing ambition and career guidance, they are not being provided to many young people

On Wednesday 14th November, the Youth Select Committee will launch its report investigating the barriers faced by young people across the country in accessing quality work experience.

Movement to Work, a collaboration of UK employers committed to tackling youth unemployment through provision of high-quality work experience and other work opportunities for young people (16-24) that are not in education, employment or training (NEET), said that it fully supports the report’s findings.

Over 100 UK employers have signed up to Movement to Work, including the Civil Service and the NHS; FTSE 100 companies such as BT, Centrica, Diageo, HSBC, M&S, Accenture and numerous SMEs. Together, our members have delivered over 75,000 work placements over the last four years.  Of those completing placements, over 50% have achieved a ‘positive outcome’ by going directly into employment, further education or training.

Areas where MtW’s findings particularly concur with the Youth Committee’s include:

• work experience not only benefits individuals, it will also help futureproof the UK’s economy. The UK faces major skills shortages, particularly in STEM, which will be exacerbated by Brexit. Work experience can help to generate interest amongst young people in these careers.
• access to work experience remains patchy and inconsistent. This is particularly true for disadvantaged young people who often don’t have the networks that can provide placements that lead to fulfilling careers and social mobility
• using a proportion of the Apprenticeship Levy to fund schools to fund support and advice on technical placements for young people. Movement to Work wants the Government to make the Levy more flexible so that it can fund pre-apprenticeship and other training so that those who could do great jobs in the future have a chance to build careers too.

James Ashall, chief executive of Movement to Work, said: “The Youth Committee’s report highlights an issue we are trying to address, access to placements that lead to employment. Everyone deserves a chance to get good career, but many young people with significant potential, like those we have already seen gain work placements through Movement to Work, are often left behind as they are stuck in a ‘no job, no experience cycle’ and become virtually invisible to those recruiting.

“We are asking imaginative employers and the Government to put work placements up the agenda to address unemployment and the economy, as well as driving social mobility and diversity in the workplace. It’s actually a relatively simple solution but is overlooked by so many.”

Movement to Work is linked to several partner charities, including The Prince’s Trust, The Change Foundation, Knowledgepool, Street Elite and many others, working with a range of young people who need work experience that will launch them into the workplace.

Organisations wishing to join Movement to Work and commit to work placements and other job opportunities throughout the rest of the year should contact Movement to Work through info@movementtowork.com.

Give all young people the gift of experience this Christmas

Movement to Work, a UK charity that has already enabled over 75,000 work placements which have helped reduce youth unemployment, asks businesses to consider all young people for Christmas jobs

 With the UK’s retail and other sectors gearing up for the Christmas rush, Movement to Work is calling on organisations that employ Christmas workers to consider employing long-term unemployed young people so that they can gain great experience and unlock their potential.

Movement to Work is a collaboration of UK employers committed to tackling youth unemployment through provision of high-quality work experience and other work opportunities for young people that are not in education, employment or training (NEET). More than 75,000 work placements have been completed so far across the UK, with over 50% of those young people progressing into jobs, apprenticeships or returning to education.  

To read full article click here.

In October 2018, the Movement to Work team attended the Celebration of Talent Match London

On Tuesday 9^th October, the Movement to Work team travelled to Diageo global headquarters in North West London to attend the London Youth’s Celebration Event for their employability programme, Talent Match London. From the top floor of the building, the setting sun lit up the glorious arches of Wembley and momentarily turned North London into honey before the audience took their seats on the conference floor. The night was a celebration of the impressive achievements of over 2,500 young people who had passed through the London Youth programme over the past five years; picking up skills, ambition, and pathways to a career along the way. It was also a celebration of the employers and mentors who had helped facilitate this transformation of young people and provided them with opportunities.

The evening was filled with inspiring stories of young people who had overcome great hardship and struggle, but despite this had begun to realise their potential through gaining employability skills.

To read the full article click here.

Movement to Work’s David Holmes, Head of Partnership Development on why embracing diversity is good for business.

Last week, I compered a panel on why embracing diversity is good for business, at KellyOCG’s Talent Leadership in Action event. The powerful stories from the panel and levels of engagement from the corporates in the audience were truly inspirational.

Championing the importance of diverse and inclusive workplaces and celebrating compelling personal success stories, often in the face of adversity, that ultimately lead to enhanced business performance, have been common themes that have emerged throughout my secondment to Movement to Work.

Tuesday’s panel was made up of Movement to Work graduates and partners; Anastacia Jamfrey, now working at BAE Systems, Jordyn Macdonald, from British Gas and Irfan Ayub, from Berkeley Homes. Also included was Ray Coyle, Chief Executive of Auticon, an IT and compliance consulting business whose consultants are all on the autism spectrum. 

It was inspiring to hear how Movement to Work had proved to be the turning point and provided a launchpad for these young people to embark on their careers. Anastacia described how she had become a mother at the age of 16 and had spent long periods unemployed, until she came across Movement to Work and started a placement at BAE Systems, which led to an apprenticeship.

Anastacia said “Whilst inclusion isn’t just about more women in engineering, I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard girls I talk to say they’ve been told they should be hairdressers or work with children.” Movement to Work can be the facilitator to drive change and allow business to have a positive impact in the areas where they are located. Anastacia reflected on her achievement, “I’ve no STEM qualifications but because BAE Systems got to see me operating in the workplace, I now work in the engineering sector and have become a passionate STEM ambassador.”

Jordyn left school and become homeless at 17, so it wasn’t surprising that it was difficult for her to find employment. Eventually, she started a work placement with British Gas and went on to secure a customer service apprenticeship. Through Movement to Work, Jordyn met Anne Milton, the Minister of State for Education: “I told her what had happened to me. It got quite emotional but there was no doubt that by the time I left Anne supported what Movement to Work is doing.”

Irfan had been exposed to criminal activities from an early age and had been expelled from school with no qualifications. He found a work placement through Street Elite, the youth development initiative that uses sport and mentoring to motivate young people. Irfan echoed what Anastacia had said about the opportunity provided by Movement to Work, “I’m in a job where my colleagues must have degrees. I’ve no qualifications on paper but by being seen first-hand in the workplace, it meant I didn’t need them. More employers must recruit this way.”

Ray described the tangible business benefits of neurodiversity; Auticon consultants have abilities that set them apart from others. They have a genuine awareness for quality, outstanding attention to detail and intuitively recognise novel patterns in complex quantities of data. Yet so many of them had found it hard to find work that suits their abilities, with only 17% of autistic adults in paid full-time employment. In an earlier session, Ray had described discovering one consultant who had worked on some of CERN’s most complex projects: “When he returned to the UK, we found that he’d ended up delivering pizzas.”

Hearing first-hand from the panellists, the thing that resonated with me the most, was at some point in our lives, whether it be personally or professionally, we have all been reliant on being presented with an opportunity. For young people such as Anastacia, Irfan and Jordyn, who have faced challenges getting into employment, Movement to Work provided that life-changing opportunity.

To read the full article click here.

Every year BT supports a variety of young people into employment. Some come needing work experience and a final polish of their CV, whereas others need help to build confidence and aspiration as well as employability skills.

The journey to sustained employment begins long before they set foot ton an employer-led programme; that’s why BT is working with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation (RFF) to create a pathway for hard-to-reach young people, from grass-roots engagement to work experience and vocational training. It’s a partnership that capitalises on the strengths of both organisations. The RFF’s tried and-tested outreach and youth development programme is one that has the needs of young people at its heart. They work with them on their home turf, building confidence and skills through sports, arts and media pathways, and broadening horizons by exposing them to new experiences.

The RFF team knows when the young people are ready to take their next steps. They are invited to get a taste of BT at a one-day skills for work boot camp. If they like what they see, they’ll then join us for a three-week work placement. They’ll be part of a group participating in a mix of classroom based skills development, hands on work experience, mock interviews and practical application support. Post-programme both teams work together to help the young people into sustained employment.

Gary Stannett MBE, CEO of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation says “At the Foundation we know that our programme of sports and cultural activities can build confidence and skills in young people, but it is partnerships with employers such as BT that can provide a crucial bridge into the world of work in a supportive and creative environment. Our work with BT to date has been a great success and we look forward to taking our collective work forward in the future.”

At BT, we’re committed to helping as many young people as possible enter the world of work, and to ensure regardless of background, ability or past achievement they are supported into the role that’s right for them. To date over 3,200 have joined us for a placement. You can find out more about BT’s work ready programme at www.bt.com/workready.