Today marked an important milestone in our partnership with Be the Business, as they hosted the first kick‑off workshop of their new programme, funded by the City & Guilds Foundation, designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) create inclusive, accessible pathways into work for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across London.
Bringing together a committed group of employers from across sectors, the workshop set the tone for an ambitious pilot: one that recognises the essential role SMEs play in supporting young people into meaningful, sustainable employment—and the untapped potential this represents for both businesses and the UK economy.
Why this matters now
The UK labour market is facing a twin challenge: rising youth disengagement and persistent skills shortages.
- One in eight young people in the UK are currently not earning or learning—up by a third since 2021.
- Nearly one million young people are out of education, employment or training (NEET).
- Those already facing disadvantage are three times more likely to be out of work or learning.
At the same time, 54% of UK organisations report worsening skills shortages, and a growing disconnect exists between what young people expect and what employers feel equipped to provide.
These challenges are not separate – they are interconnected, and they require collaborative, system‑level solutions that start locally and practically. That is precisely what this programme sets out to achieve.
A partnership built on shared purpose
City & Guilds Foundation is supporting this programme with a £60,000 grant, enabling Be the Business to deliver a structured, tested, and insight‑driven approach to improving youth employment through SMEs.
This investment sits firmly within the Foundation’s wider commitment to addressing inequality in skills, following the work of the Transitions Commission and our long‑term focus on helping people, in this case younger people, overcome barriers to work.
SMEs are where real workplace opportunities are created and are central to this mission. Their ability to offer hands‑on experience, tailored support, and community‑rooted roles positions them uniquely to unlock early‑career opportunities that can be life‑changing.
The pilot programme is built around a simple but powerful ambition: to enable SMEs to confidently recruit, support, and retain young people who are currently disengaged from the labour market.
To achieve this, the programme focuses on two core phases:
1. Prepare – equipping SMEs with tools, knowledge, and confidence
SMEs will take part in workshops co‑designed with corporate partners, covering:
- Inclusive recruitment
- Effective onboarding
- Designing high‑quality first jobs
- Adapting job descriptions and interview processes
In addition, up to 25 SMEs will be matched with experienced corporate mentors who will guide them through youth‑readiness actions and provide hands‑on support.
2. Support – ongoing guidance for lasting impact
The programme extends beyond initial training. Participating SMEs will also benefit from:
- One‑to‑one mentoring with HR and operational leaders
- A community of practice offering peer learning, expert input, and practical problem‑solving
- Access to an “SMEs for Opportunity” digital platform enriched with corporate insights and Q&A support
This structured combination of practical guidance, corporate expertise, and peer support aims to build long‑term confidence and capability within SMEs—key ingredients for creating sustainable entry‑level roles.
Capturing learning to influence system change
As a test and learn pilot, this programme is also about generating insights. Through baseline and endline surveys, qualitative interviews, and ongoing monitoring, we aim to understand:
- What motivates SMEs to engage
- What challenges they face
- Which interventions drive the greatest impact
- How inclusive recruitment practices can be scaled nationally
These insights will feed directly into a future policy report, ensuring this work informs wider conversations with government, industry, and education partners.
A strong start: reflections from today
Today’s workshop was a powerful reminder that, behind every statistic, there is a young person whose life can change because one employer chooses to open a door.
SMEs shared candid reflections about their challenges, their commitment to supporting young people, and their desire for practical tools that make inclusive recruitment achievable – not overwhelming. Corporate partners offered insight into what has worked in their own organisations, and how those practices might be adapted for smaller businesses.
Most importantly, there was a shared sense of purpose: that together, we can build a more inclusive, connected, and productive workforce from the ground up.
Speaking about the partnership, Anthony Impey FCGI, Chief Executive at Be The Business said: ‘With so much focus on developing programmes that equip young people with new skills, it’s easy to forget that it’s equally important to build demand from employers to create opportunities for young people. That’s why the partnership between City & Guilds Foundation and Be the Business is so important – we want to prove what can happen when leaders of small and medium-size businesses are empowered with practical support, real know-how and the power of strong networks to employ those at the start of their careers.’
We look forward to sharing updates as the programme progresses, and to the impact we know this work can have on young people whose futures depend on employers willing to take a chance on potential.