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Employer partnerships

Partner with us to provide job opportunities for young people

We support young people who have the potential to thrive in work but may face barriers to securing employment. Through long-term coaching, we help them build the confidence, skills and aspirations they need to succeed in the workplace.

We also work with employers, supporting them to build recruitment pathways that recognise potential, not just interview performance. 

The issue

  • Currently, 1 million young people are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
  • Many employers are facing high recruitment costs, aging workforces and lack the support needed to hire young people.

Our solution

We help employers remove barriers that prevent talented young people from accessing meaningful work. We support them to create meaningful entry routes into employment – through apprenticeships, entry-level roles, and our Extended Recruitment Programme where young people demonstrate their suitability for roles through work trials.

The benefits

  • Ownership of the recruitment process: offering job trials over traditional interviews can allow you to reach untapped potential and find the right people for each role.
  • Improve morale and boost productivity:
    • Young employees can bring a fresh perspective. Most young workers are eager to learn, build their experience and apply their skills in the workforce. This enthusiasm is great for team building, productivity and workplace morale.
    • Young people are used to learning. They retain a mindset that help them absorb training easily.
  • Higher retention: 69% of employers say that employing apprentices improved staff retention. 65% of apprentices stay working for the company that trained them when they complete their apprenticeship.
  • Financial incentive: UK employers can claim a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant through the Youth Jobs Grant service by hiring an eligible young person aged 18 to 24 who has been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for at least six months.
  • Corporate social responsibility: Contribute to tackling the current youth unemployment crisis.

Work with us

Join a growing movement of employers rethinking how talent is discovered. We’ll help you design opportunities that work for both your organisation and the young people involved. 

If you:

  • are an employer, apprenticeship provider or recruitment agency in London, Kent or Nottingham
  • have vacant entry-level roles or would like to discuss creating some
  • are open to inclusive recruitment processes
  • want to chat about how we can work together

Please contact nicolette.bassan@thinkforward.org.uk

To find out about the other ways we partner with employers, including volunteering opportunities, click here.