System challenge

Creating more employment opportunities for marginalised young people is essential in addressing the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge, but there is a lack of understanding and application of what works to do this for meaningful positive change at scale.

 

Our aim

To support more inclusive and impactful employer practice by making the best evidence on what works more accessible and usable to the business community and working with them to generate much needed new evidence that can better inform future change.

How we support employers

Driving workplace action with expert partners

We collaborate with organisations to put evidence into practice, like our partnership with Business in the Community, which uses insights from our workplace discrimination report to drive behaviour change among employers.

 

Collaborating with trusted employer bodies

We work with national and regional sector, trade and representative bodies to embed our learnings and resources in workplaces at scale.

Designing and trialling potential solutions

We are working directly with employers through research trials to test and understand what works to deliver more inclusive recruitment and retention practices.

Useful tools

Ourinteractive online tools are designed to help you access and make use of the latest youth employment data and research.

Youth Employment Toolkit

Summarising evidence on effective youth employment interventions.

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Data Dashboard

The latest youth labour market data and our latest research.

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Youth employment system map

Interactive map of the youth employment system in England.

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Evidence and gap map

The world's largest interactive map of effective youth interventions.

View tool

Meet our employer partners

Youth Employment UK

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Youth Employment UK
Employer partner

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About

Youth Employment UK is a leading employer membership organisation changing the youth employment landscape for young people and employers.

Working with Youth Futures

We are working with Youth Employment UK to understand how its existng Youth Friendly Employment Framework, endorsed by Goldsmiths, University of London, can be built upon.

The partnership provides a data collection and analysis infrastructure through which evidence can be gathered on employer practice with respect to youth employment.

Workwhile

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Workwhile
Employer partner

Programme

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StatusActive

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About

Workwhile is a not-for-profit initiative, currently incubated and hosted the IPPR (the Institute for Public Policy Research), which addresses inequity in access to good work.

Apprenticeship creation is at the heart of its mission, and since 2020 they have created over 1,750 apprenticeships for disadvantaged and marginalised Londoners.

Working with Youth Futures

We are supporting Workwhile to create 1,000 apprenticeships for disadvantaged and marginalised young people in London, including supporting its mission-driven levy transfer brokerage service which ensures that apprenticeship levy funds reach the businesses and individuals where it is most needed.

This partnership includes a pilot programme of training for apprentices’ line managers – DevelopMentor – and enhancing Workwhile’s knowledge sharing activities across its extensive networks.

DFN Project Search

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DFN Project Search
Employer partner

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About

DFN Project SEARCH is a one-year transition to work programme for young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions, or both.

Working with Youth Futures

The Bridging the Gap initiative will challenge the misconceptions, lack of knowledge, and understanding across society about what young adults with a learning disability can achieve when supported in the right way.

DFN is seeking to:

  • understand the key barriers to employment – particularly within the private sector – and what needs to change to overcome them;
  • explore what inclusive recruitment looks like and what support is needed to deliver it.

DFN will develop data and insight, sharing findings with our network to improve best practice and influence policy to remove the barriers to employment for these young people.

Business in the Community

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Business in the Community
Employer partner, Learning partner

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Evaluators

StatusActive

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Business in the Community is a pioneering organisation dedicated to driving positive societal change through responsible business practices.

As a leading force in the corporate social responsibility landscape, Business in the Community collaborates with businesses of all sizes to champion environmental sustainability, promote diversity and inclusion, and address pressing social issues.

By providing valuable resources, expertise, and networking opportunities, Business in the Community empowers companies to make a tangible difference in their communities. With a strategic focus on creating a more sustainable and equitable future, Business in the Community serves as a catalyst for meaningful impact, inspiring a new era of purpose-driven business practices that prioritises people, planet, and prosperity.