EY Foundation pledges a six-fold increase in the number of young people it helps into work each year

EY Foundation increases impact and commits to help thousands more young people get into work.

Over the last year, independent charity, the EY Foundation has supported 1500 young people prepare for the transition into work.

Having demonstrated increased impact through a range of measurements in locations across the UK, the charity has committed to supporting 11,000 young people overcome barriers to gaining fulfilling employment in the future.

The charity will achieve a six-fold increase in the number of young people it helps each year by working with over a 1000 UK employers and 7000 volunteers.  

The ambitious 2022 targets are included in the EY Foundation’s new Impact Report “Better working futures”, which was launched at their Impact Awards event on the 8^th May.

Here are some of the highlights from our 2018 Impact Report. You can read at the full report here https://t.co/vwXGzxCD7V #EYFImpact pic.twitter.com/82CDxMaqrP

— EY Foundation (@EY_Foundation) May 8, 2019

The occasion celebrated the outstanding contributions of young people, employers and volunteers who have driven the charity’s impact from July 2017 to June 2018. This included a 71% increase in the number of young people supported, 94% of whom qualified for free school meals.

The EY Foundation is achieving a rapid growth in impact through a model that combines employability skills training, paid work experience, qualifications, long-term mentoring and introductions to employers.

Chief Executive, Maryanne Matthews said:

“With a record 2.9 million young people coming from families living in poverty, our mission is more urgent than ever. To achieve greater impact our programmes must continually adapt and evolve. One way we will do this is by broadening the range of young people we support, working with those who face greater barriers to securing employment, such as young people who are care experienced.”

Building strong, long-term partnerships with employers is central to the Foundation’s approach. Last year the Foundation partnered with more than 250 employers in sectors that included financial services, central government, construction and the charity sector.

President of the Confederation of British Industry, John Allan said:

“It’s impossible to overstate how critical to the UK economy it is to ensure the latest generation of young people have the skills and experience to thrive in the workplace. But it’s also a moral responsibility for the UK to make sure we give all young people, no matter what their background, the skills and support they need to fulfil their potential. That’s why I am so pleased to support the EY Foundation.”

92% of the young people on the EY Foundation’s Smart Futures and Our Future programmes received a level two Team Leading Qualification from the Chartered Management Institute. This is just one of the outcomes from the charity’s work that is transforming the lives of young people.

Ryan Makuku, now a Treasury analyst at Barclays said:

“Growing up I always knew I wanted to have a job where I wore a suit, but I didn’t quite know how to get there. In the areas I grew up in, there wasn’t a lot of opportunities for young people. EY Foundation and its Smart Futures programme really pushed me to do more to break down those

barriers. The biggest take away was the confidence and self-belief I gained. It was a turning point. Had I not done the programme I 100 per cent don’t think I’d be where I am today.”

Others have gone on to apprenticeships or vocational training after taking part in Foundation programmes.

Omar Choudhury is one of the faces of the government’s “Fire it Up” apprenticeship campaign:

“After my work experience during the Foundation’s Smart Futures programme I learnt that I didn’t need a degree to be successful. The programme massively superseded my expectations. I came out having better knowledge of the working world and my confidence boosted. Without being on the programme I now wouldn’t be on a degree apprenticeship or have experienced some of the other amazing opportunities I have been given.”

Other key stats from the 2018 impact report include:

• More than 2,700 young people facing barriers to employment supported since the charity’s launch in 2014
• 74% of former Foundation programme participants have gone on to university
• 21% of former Foundation programme participants are in employment
• 27% of former Foundation programme participants are applying for an apprenticeship or traineeship

About EY Foundation: A UK registered charity that works directly with young people, employers and social entrepreneurs to create or support pathways to education, employment or enterprise. EY Foundation builds and delivers programmes, working with third parties and volunteers.