Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Social Inclusion Group

Young people employability programme

We are very excited to have been awarded HEIF funding enabling us to build a corporate partnership with the EY Foundation.

Learn more about the volunteering opportunities and programme impact.

Since 2021, with have worked closely with the EY Foundation charity to deliver two employability programmes for young people (aged 16-19 years). The programmes are important initiatives in demonstrating our commitment to removing social, cultural and economic barriers that have traditionally prevented people from working and studying at Warwick.

The aim of the EY Foundation programmes is to help the young people develop a variety of transferable skills that will give them a head start into the pathway of their chose. See Mark’s story to find out more.

A young muslim woman smiles to the camera at the Smart Futures graduation

Throughout the partnership with the EY Foundation, we will be delivering two employability programmes per academic year, the programmes include - Beyond Your Limits, Smart Futures and Your Futures. All of the programmes provide the young people with employment skills, and the opportunity to partake in work experience in a Warwick department.

During the programme and work experience, the young people will gain real, valuable personal and professional development and find out what it is like to work and study at Warwick and beyond, they will be exposed to various pathways into other opportunities such as apprenticeships, undergraduate study, and internships. All the young people will achieve a Level 2 qualification from the Chartered Management Institute in Team Leading. They will also be assigned a mentor from Warwick who will work with them to raise aspirations.

Through programme engagement, it will enable us to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. We will also gain valuable insights into how we can support and encourage young people in the local area to gain meaningful employment or go onto study either at Warwick or another HEI.

Smart Futures

In order to be eligible as a candidate for the Smart Futures programme, individuals must:

  • Be 16-17 years old in Year 12 (or Fifth Year in Scotland) in state schools studying any combination of A-levels, IB or BTEC.
  • Have been eligible for free school meals within the past 6 years and live in an area of high deprivation (not all locations).
Two young people working in WMG lab, led by a Warwick staff member

Beyond Your Limits

A programme designed for care experienced young people aged 16-19 years.

In order to be eligible as a candidate for the Beyond your Limits programme, individuals must:

  • Be 16-19 years old.
  • In education (any setting, part or full-time).
  • Care experienced/Care Leavers.

Learn more about the volunteering opportunities, and how you can get involved - How can you get involved.

Your Future

A programme aimed to not only get young people 'prepared for work', but also to help get them 'get into work'.

  • Aimed at 16 - 19 year olds.
  • Targeted at young people from low income families, leaving school or college with no pathway in further education or employment.

 

“So far, I have found the EY Foundation programme to be one of the best programmes I've ever been on. From communicating nervously on the first day of the programme, to creating a PowerPoint, working together effectively and creating a final presentation, through to group discussions and team work. This had been a wonderful and exciting experience for me as it has increased my confidence socially, which had been my concern at the start of the programme. Now I'm able to speak freely and confidently within my group, thank you. Looking forward for what this programme brings next.”

EY Foundation mentee