About
Kate had almost two decades of experience in employer engagement – expanding partnerships, translating research into practical hiring strategies, and leading collaborative initiatives to create pathways to meaningful employment for marginalised groups. Kate is committed to driving systemic change through employer-led solutions, with a deep passion for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the labour market.
Kate lives with her husband, two children, and Maple the fox red Labrador (her favourite child). Outside work, Kate runs regularly (but reluctantly), organises Book / Wine Clubs (willingly) and is on a never-ending mission to learn Spanish.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures
Kate focuses on managing and strengthening employer partnerships, and she plays a crucial role in expanding partnerships – using evidence-driven insights to enhance employer engagement. Kate collaborates closely with our Impact and Evaluation teams to help identify effective recruitment and retention practices, connecting with employers eager to trial innovative approaches as part of our flagship programme to build the evidence on what works for recruitment & retention.
About
Lauren loves being organised and helpful and has previously worked in admin & secretarial jobs, most recently at a property investment company. In her personal time, she enjoys doing charity work. She has raised £20k by organising various fundraising events, and visited North Africa to carry out charity work at children’s hospitals, schools and women’s refuges. She also enjoys big walks, pilates and spending time with family and friends.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Lauren is a Directorate Assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs, and Employer Engagement and Partnesrhip teams.
About
Bal’s professional background includes Employability, ESOL, Management, Training and community engagement in both voluntary & statutory organizations. She has a passion for equality and empowerment and fair access for all.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Bal is a Relationship Manager in the Connected Futures Team. She has lead on the work to expand Connected Futures to young people and communities with Bangladeshi or Pakistani heritage to create sytemic change by tackling discrimination amd barriers to employment.
About
Surayah brings experience in social media and community engagement. Outside of work, Surayah enjoys martial arts, piano, photography, and reading. She’s passionate about volunteering and community work, supporting young people and helping at a local church and food bank.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Surayah supports our Employer Engagement & Partnerships and Policy & External Affairs Directorates with day-to-day administration and coordination.
About
Before joining Youth Futures, Megan spent over 15 years working in local government, specialising in employment and skills. She managed a range of projects and partnerships in Birmingham, from city-wide initiatives to neighbourhood-level programmes, including delivery of a large-scale European Social Fund/Youth Employment Initiative project across Birmingham and Solihull.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Megan is Senior Relationship Manager for the Connected Futures Programme, where she works closely with our delivery partners, fostering a youth-led approach to driving systemic change in youth employment.
About
Danielle has a background in business development and finance having spent three years at one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, Ernst & Young (EY). Danielle is extremely passionate about supporting young people to develop key skills and transition into meaningful employment and has worked and/or volunteered with a number of frontline delivery organisations such as: The EY Foundation, The National Citizens Service, Princes Trust, Childreach International, The Chartered Management Institute, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise and more.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Danielle is a Relationship Manager here at Youth Futures with responsibility for our Burnley and Hull Connected Futures Partnerships, currently working to create youth led and place-based systemic change.
About
Eleanor has multiple years of experience in the education sector, having worked as a mentor in a secondary school, with her most recent role at a university involving experiential learning and engaging students outside of the classroom. In her spare time, Ellen enjoys yoga, films and going for countryside walks.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
In their role as Engagement Manager, within our Employer Engagement and Partnerships team, Eleanor works to better our understanding of employer needs and to use our evidence to influence employer practices and behaviours. Eleanor leads on our strategic partnerships on Increasing Level 2 & 3 Apprenticeships Supply and on our Toolkit Unwrapped series, translating our evidence for an employer audience. They are a member of our internal EDI Network.
About
Nish has over 20 years of experience in the charity sector in several senior roles working with employers to create fairer and more inclusive workplaces having worked at Business in the Community, Macmillan, and Investors in People. Nish is a trustee with Element a social enterprise supporting young people leaving the care system. And in her free time, Nish loves wild swimming, hot Pilates and walking the parklands of North London with her pooch Marley.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Nishi leads on our engagement with employers, employer groups and partners. We work in collaboration to take an evidence based approach to influence employers on what works in recruiting and retaining young people from marginalised groups.
About
Katy has over a decade’s worth of experience of working with employers to achieve social inclusion through good work, most recently as Head of Campaigns for Employment and & Skills at Business in the Community.
Outside of work Katy is Chair of Governors at a local primary school and has a passion for vintage fashion, books and running.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Katy drives our work to influence change in employer behaviour and practice around the recruitment and retention of young people. Building strategic partnerships which enable us to amplify evidence led solutions that deliver behaviour change is a key part of the work Katy delivers.
About
Rosie is a degree qualified Youth & Community Worker who has been in the youth sector on a local, national and international level since 2007. She runs youth clubs across Birmingham and is a trustee for The Door Youth Project.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Rosie coordinates the wider cross-organisational Connected Futures team to ensure the smooth running of the programme.
About
Louise has been working within the not-for-profit sector in Birmingham for almost 10 years, most recently working at a local infrastructure organisation. Her roles included contract and strategic relationship management for various programmes including a £6million Ageing Better programme and a strategic support and development programme for civil society organisations in Birmingham.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Louise oversees the development and delivery of Youth Futures Foundation’s Connected Futures Programme.
About
With a background in commercial and corporate banking followed by 14 years’ experience of providing and managing grants and loans in the VCSE sector, Andy joined Youth Futures from the Architectural Heritage Fund where he headed up its social investment team for 10 years. Away from work, he enjoys creative writing, reading Russian literature, and waiting for Grimsby Town Football Club to start winning again.
What they are involved with at Youth Futures?
Andy oversees the development and delivery of Youth Futures Foundation’s Connected Futures Programme.
About
Theo has a background in working to support marginalised groups, and he holds an MA in Politics and Economic History and a Postgraduate Diploma in Political Communications.
What are they involved with at Youth Futures?
Theo supports our Employer Engagement & Partnerships team to manage key projects, developing and maintaining operational processes to ensure we achieve our organisational targets.
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