Welcome to the Movement to Work July Newsletter
Movement to Work (MtW) is a not-for-profit coalition of UK employers, youth-outreach organisations, training providers and government allies – all aiming to level the playing field for young age people aged 16-30 facing barriers to work.
See below for our latest updates!
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A message from our CEO - Sam Olsen
We still live in strange times. As we emerge from the pandemic, as offices start to open up, and we create and balance yet another "new normal". Many of you will be starting to think about what returning to the office might look like (if you haven't already returned), and what you and your teams might feel comfortable with.
The workplace has always been a daunting place for young people and those furthest from the jobs market - it's just become more so. Young people who have been living in some of the worst-hit communities are feeling scared and worried about starting work. We need to ensure we meet them where they are and support them safely into becoming inspired and excited again about the opportunities that are out there.
And there are opportunities out there! I have been amazed by the fantastic experiences being offered across our network to support our young people back into the workplace and into brighter futures. Please keep going and continue to keep vulnerable young people front of mind as you consider your next hires. Who could you take a chance on? Who could you invest in to make your next rising star? Who's life could you change? They are just waiting to be found.
Have a fantastic summer.
Thank you, as ever, for your support - Sam
#YoungPeopleWork
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Summer Leadership Forum - June 2021.
We were delighted to be joined by a range of passionate and dedicated speakers during our Summer Leadership Forum in June. As we were focussing on the North West, it was great to hear from Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who offered up a mix of sobering and inspirational insights to the youth employment agenda.
You can catch a full recording of the event by following the link below. Please do share with your own networks and let’s see if, together, we can inspire more employers to get involved with Movement to Work.
Please find the timings of each of our speakers below; you can also use the segments within the video timeline to navigate between speakers
Speaker Timings
03:15 - Vernon Kay, The Prince's Trust Celebrity Ambassador
06:39 - Alveena Malik, CEO and Founder, One Million Mentors
12:58 - Mat Ilic, Chief Development Officer, Catch 22
24:02 - Jack Houghton, Director and Co-Founder, Half Full
31:51 - Helen Wharton, Head of Graduate Education, BAE Systems
46:16 - Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
1:02:29 - Panel discussion with Mat and Helen (as above), Zahid Howladar -
Head of Delivery, One Million Mentors, Gemma Marsh - Director for Education, Skills and Work, and Anastacia Jamfrey - Movement to Work Youth Ambassador
1:24:32 - Sam Olsen, CEO Movement to Work
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Movement to Work Roundtable Events
A MtW roundtable discussing the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors was recently hosted by subject matter experts from Springboard, Diageo and the retailTrust. In addition to discussing the current situation and the importance of these sectors to support careers and provide employability skills for those who will seek a career elsewhere, we looked at the factors to be considered in addition to the provision of jobs. Alternative pathways to recruitment and improved wellbeing strategies were the two main areas with different ideas and solutions discussed covering employee benefits, learning and development, d&i initiatives, alternative technology to support recruitment processes or scheduling and flexible working arrangements.
Movement to Work roundtables provide an informal environment to discuss and challenge how we can all best support young people.
>> For further information on this or future roundtable events please contact us at info@movementtowork.com
Upcoming Research
Movement to Work and Youth Futures Foundation are currently jointly working on a piece of research to uncover the ways in which businesses do or do not engage in youth employability programmes, including understanding the opportunities, the success stories, and the barriers. After a competitive pitch process, IFF Research has been commissioned to carry out the research. Movement to Work expresses special thanks to Accenture UK and Sage UK for helping to fund the project on behalf of Movement to Work. Results are expected to emerge hopefully by the end of Autumn 2021, and we look forward to using the insights to further the Movement and its aims.
MtW Employer Partners recognised at ISE Awards
Here at MtW we are always proud of the excellent work undertaken within our community, It therefore gives us great pleasure to congratulate a number of our employer partners who have been listed as finalists in the Institute of Student Awards.
>> View the full list of finalists and nomination categories HERE
A Summer of Opportunity
Movement to Work are proud to be supporting Youth Employment UK and their #CreateYourFuture campaign. By feeding MtW's employer and provider network vacancies and opportunities into YEUK's #CreateYourFuture Opportunity Finder, we are helping expose young people to even more openings this summer.
M & S Donation Benefits Barnardos Cohort
Barnardo's have issued a statement of thanks to Marks and Spencer for their recent, generous contribution to the Great British Tech Appeal.
Earlier in the year, Movement to Work partnered with Barnardo's to amplify the appeal, which looks to address digital poverty, across our network. Donations of laptops are coupled with six month's free unlimited data, provided by Vodafone, and distributed to one of Barnardo's ETS hubs. From their, young people on Barnardo's schemes are gifted a laptop aiding their chances of securing work.
Marks and Spencer's donations found their way to new homes across Scotland, and Barnardo's said,
"The laptops have been used to support young people who may not have had access to their own technology due to digital poverty or not being able to use shared devices at home. These laptops have been able to provide us with the tools to digitally deliver our services to some of the most at risk young people in all settings and rural areas in particular.
Through being able to work with young people online via video links and classrooms, we have been able to put a face to our names and help young people to feel supported and connected in times of social isolation.
The use of digital delivery over this period has opened future opportunities to continue digital delivery in more rural areas where transport to and from the office would have been difficult. This has also enabled young people to connect socially with other young people addressing issues of isolation and loneliness.”
>> If you would like to donate laptops, smartphones or tablets to the Great British Tech Appeal, please contact simon.beckman@unilever.com for more information.
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Employer networking group 'Inspire for Higher' in Birmingham
In the UK the percentage of working age adults with a learning disability in employment is 5.9%. In Birmingham it is 1.3%. We believe that this is unacceptable and that employers need to do their part to improve on this statistic. The Birmingham Careers Hub Cornerstone Employer group, have set-up an employer networking group ‘Inspire For Higher’, to create a supportive, learning environment where employers and providers of all shapes and sizes can feel empowered to take the next step towards providing inclusive career development opportunities for young people with SEND and support them to achieve positive and purposeful career outcomes.
They are looking for: Employers to become founding members of the group.
- Could be SMEs or large companies.
- Could have past experience supporting SEND students or be committed to doing this in the coming year.
- The commitment of a founding member is to attend 4 networking meetings in the first calendar year (21/22) and to put their logo to the group.
- Employers to attend the launch event
- To take place during National Inclusion Week (27th Sep – 3rd October) on the 1st October.
- This will be a chance to find out more about the group and learn from other companies who are already working with SEND students.
>> If interested or for more information, contact Ruth Broome SEND Lead for the Birmingham Careers Hub or telephone 07717 425993
Steps Ahead Mentoring for Young Job Seekers
Steps Ahead Mentoring is a national volunteering programme supporting young people, aged 18-24, to be in a better position to find work through one-to-one mentoring support from CIPD members. It helps those who want to take their first step on the career ladder, and parents or carers of any age who are looking to return to work, whether that's building or changing their career. Participants will get one-to-one mentoring support from experts in recruiting and developing employees. Mentors volunteer their unique insight and knowledge of the world of work to equip job seekers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to help get a job and thrive in it.
>> Find out more HERE.
Prince's Trust event: "Kickstart - Make a Difference Now"
Our partners at Prince’s Trust recently held a fantastic online event that’s worth adding to your watchlist. Hear from businesses employing young people through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, including MtW Member Marks and Spencer, and see the difference it is making to unemployed young people, the economy and to business.
>> Watch now HERE.
Hear from young people about their challenges in gaining vital digital skills
On 29 July MtW and Catch 22 will be joining FutureDotNow to hear first-hand from young people about the challenges they face gaining essential digital skills for work, and sharing data to unpack the extent of the issue and what that means for business
>> Want to join? Register HERE.
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Movement to Work is pleased to announce the new partners and employers that have signed up to join the fight against youth unemployment! For more information, please contact info@movementtowork.com.
3 Pillars Project
Welcome to 3 Pillars Project who have joined our network. Founded in 2015, 3 Pillars Project runs rehabilitation programmes for young men and boys in prisons across London and the South East. They use rugby and sport as a gateway to engage young people, deliver mentoring and provide positive role models, in order to reduce re-offending. They are expanding to make a difference in the West Midlands too so get in touch with them if you'd like to learn more.
>> For more information EMAIL 3 Pillars Project or visit their Website HERE
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Recruiting MtW Youth Ambassadors
Since 2020, young people from across our network who are interested in being the youth voice of Movement to Work have been inspiring employers, young people, and society at large to help #YoungPeopleWork. If you or someone you know wants to get involved, please register interest online HERE.
>> For more information please contact davy.cowie@movementtowork.com.
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