The challenge

Too many young people – currently 1 in 8 – are not in work, education, or training. And young people from certain marginalised backgrounds face more challenges than their peers to secure and thrive in good work.  

At the same time, businesses are battling to build strong, talented, and sustainable workforces within a tough economic climate.  

The opportunity

By recruiting and supporting young people, employers can help create a society where all young people can achieve good work, and secure the talent they need for their future workforce. 

By building the evidence base on how employers can recruit and support diverse workforces, we can equip businesses across the country to improve their policies and practices informed by the evidence of what works.  

What are we doing?

We’re working to trial promising employment interventions with trailblazing employers by 2028.

Through these trials, we will build understanding of what works, and share practical insights that will benefit employers, young people, and wider society.  

We are building partnerships with innovative, socially aware employers to:  
  1. Understand the challenges they face in recruiting young people from marginalised backgrounds.
  2. Co-design potential solutions. 
  3. Implement these solutions and evaluate whether they work, by conducting Randomised Controlled Trials. 
  4. Understand the outcomes for young people and benefits for the employer, then spread this evidence to inspire widespread practice change.

What is a Randomised Control Trial?


A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) is a type of high-quality scientific experiment typically used in medical research. RCTs are considered the “gold standard” for generating evidence, as randomisation attempts to reduce or remove bias, allowing us to rigorously examine the relationship between an intervention and an outcome. For example, the impact of anonymising job applications on the diversity of new recruits
 

Benefits for participating employers

Bespoke support

Receive free consultancy-style support to design and implement potential improvements to recruitment and retention practices. 

Expert analysis

Benefit from expert analysis to help achieve goals in recruitment, retention, and EDI, and bring diverse talent to your workforce. 

Build your reputation

Build your reputation as an innovative employer, committed to the generation of robust evidence.

Social value

Demonstrate a meaningful commitment to social value and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

“Generating and curating high-quality evidence is at the heart of what we do at Youth Futures Foundation. Through these employer trials, we will develop a more detailed picture of what really works for both employers and employees, enabling informed decision making that creates real change for young people.”

Barry Fletcher – CEO, Youth Futures Foundation

Collaborate with us

We have embarked on a number of exciting partnerships already, but we’re still looking to conduct trials in partnership with more employers.

We’re keen to partner with employers across all sectors who:  

  • Recruit in large volumes

    As a rule of thumb, we’re looking to partner with employers with 10,000+ employees.

  • Are solutions-oriented

    Interested and able to make responsive changes to recruitment and retention policies.

Meet the partners

WJ Group

Talent Unlocked  · 

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WJ Group
Employer pioneer

ProgrammeTalent Unlocked

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About

WJ Group is the UK’s leading road marking and highway safety organisation.

Working with Youth Futures

WJ Group is part of our group of Employer Pioneers with the Talent Unlocked partnership.

This partnership is managed by Business in the Community (BITC). WJ Group receive intensive support from BITC to uncover the barriers ethnically diverse young people face in the workplace, and to trial and test initiatives to break down ethnic disparities.

SLR Consulting

Talent Unlocked  · 

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SLR Consulting
Employer pioneer

ProgrammeTalent Unlocked

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

SLR Consulting is an international sustainability consultancy.

Working with Youth Futures

SLR Consulting is part of our group of Employer Pioneers with the Talent Unlocked partnership.

This partnership is managed by Business in the Community (BITC). SLR Consulting receive intensive support from BITC to uncover the barriers ethnically diverse young people face in the workplace, and to trial and test initiatives to break down ethnic disparities.

Newcastle Building Society

Talent Unlocked  · 

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Newcastle Building Society
Employer pioneer

ProgrammeTalent Unlocked

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

Newcastle Building Society is the eighth largest building society in the UK.

Working with Youth Futures

Newcastle Building Society is part of our group of Employer Pioneers with the Talent Unlocked partnership.

This partnership is managed by Business in the Community (BITC). Newcastle Building Society receive intensive support from BITC to uncover the barriers ethnically diverse young people face in the workplace, and to trial and test initiatives to break down ethnic disparities.

Network Rail (Wales and Western)

Talent Unlocked  · 

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Network Rail (Wales and Western)
Employer pioneer

ProgrammeTalent Unlocked

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

Network Rail (Wales and Western) provides transport for communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England and the South West Peninsula.

Working with Youth Futures

Network Rail (Wales and Western) is part of our group of Employer Pioneers with the Talent Unlocked partnership.

This partnership is managed by Business in the Community (BITC). Network Rail (Wales and Western) receive intensive support from BITC to uncover the barriers ethnically diverse young people face in the workplace, and to trial and test initiatives to break down ethnic disparities.

Pertemps

Talent Unlocked  · 

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Pertemps
Employer pioneer

ProgrammeTalent Unlocked

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

Pertemps is a recruitment agency in the public and private sector.

Working with Youth Futures

Pertemps is part of our group of Employer Pioneers with the Talent Unlocked partnership.

This partnership is managed by Business in the Community (BITC). Pertemps receive intensive support from BITC to uncover the barriers ethnically diverse young people face in the workplace, and to trial and test initiatives to break down ethnic disparities.

Want to know more?

Briefing for Employers Download
Flyer for Employers Download

Could you be our next partner?

We are actively looking for new partners to test promising employment interventions. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.