The City & Guilds Foundation is delighted to announce £74,000 in funding for Generation UK, supporting an innovative project that will help more people facing barriers to employment gain the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to build sustainable careers.
The funding will support Generation UK’s Building FE College Capability Project, which will establish two new Further Education (FE) college partnerships outside London between October 2026 and December 2027.
The project will focus on strengthening the colleges’ abilities to deliver high-quality, employer-aligned training that leads to sustainable employment, particularly for people who face significant challenges accessing the labour market.
Possible partnership locations include Liverpool City Region, Wet Midlands and West Yorkshire with training pathways focused on sectors including healthcare and retrofit advice.
Breaking down barriers to employment
For many people, securing employment isn’t simply about having the right qualifications. Barriers such as financial disadvantage, digital exclusion, limited work experience and a lack of professional networks can make it difficult to access opportunities and progress into work. Generation UK is working to change this.
Since 2019, the organisation has supported nearly 5,000 people facing significant barriers to employment, helping over 2,700 secure jobs. Its training provision has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, demonstrating the strength of its approach to helping learners develop the skills employers need.
Generation’s model combines intensive, practical training with personalised coaching and employment support, ensuring learners are supported not just to complete their training, but to successfully transition into the workplace.
Through this new funding, the organisation will extend its reach by working directly with FE colleges, building their capacity to deliver these employment-focused programmes over the longer term.
Building lasting capability within colleges
At the heart of the project is Generation’s proven ‘train-the-trainer’ approach, which enables college staff to develop the knowledge, confidence and resources needed to deliver effective training programmes themselves.
Each college partnership will benefit from at least four weeks of intensive staff training and onboarding, alongside dedicated project management, employer-aligned teaching materials, digital systems and practical resources.
The project will also provide equipment, including laptops for learners experiencing digital exclusion, helping to ensure that a lack of access to technology doesn’t become another barrier to participation.
Learners will receive six months of placement support and coaching to help them secure employment after completing their training.
A proven approach to improving employment outcomes
Generation’s approach has already delivered impressive results through a pilot in London.
Across the initial two co-delivered cohorts, 53 learners enrolled, with 92% graduating and 62% securing employment. More than 90% of those who secured employment remained in work six months after graduation.
The pilot also successfully reached under-represented groups, with 73% of learners from ethnic minority backgrounds, 32% identifying as disabled and 59% coming from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Building on these results, the new project has set ambitious targets, including supporting more than 90% of learners to complete their programmes and feel more confident about entering the world of work.
It also aims for more than 60% of learners to secure jobs in their target sectors, with over 80% remaining in employment after one year.
Creating opportunities for brighter futures
The City & Guilds Foundation is committed to removing barriers to skills development and employment, supporting initiatives that help people unlock their potential regardless of their background or circumstances. Laura Mountain, Head of Strategy and Impact at the Foundation, explains:
“This funding reflects our commitment by investing in an approach that supports individuals while also strengthening the wider skills system. By equipping FE colleges with the tools, expertise and support needed to deliver employer-aligned training, Generation UK will help create more inclusive and sustainable routes into employment.”
Chioma Etienne, Chief Operating Officer, Generation UK adds:
“Further Education colleges are the backbone of local skills provision, with strong roots in their communities, good facilities and a deep understanding of their learners. Pairing this with Generation’s employer-aligned curricula, partner network and capacity-building support enables us to support even more people facing barriers to work into meaningful careers. We are delighted to scale our college partnership model with the City & Guilds Foundation’s generous support. We look forward to working with new college partners to change outcomes for learners across the UK.”
Working together, the City & Guilds Foundation and Generation UK are helping to ensure that more people facing barriers have the opportunity to develop their skills, access sustainable work and build better futures.