The City & Guilds Foundation recently ran a virtual event with our partners The Launchpad Collective to examine how to unlock refugee talent to access skilled people looking for work. The Launchpad Collective (TLC) connects employers with refugee talent. Steered by refugees, for refugees, working side-by-side with both job seekers and employers so that roles are filled and refugees are empowered to contribute positively to society. TLC also...

Lauren Roberts
Advocacy Lead
“Loh-ren Roh-berts” | she/her
Lauren leads on all of our advocacy work across the Foundation.
You can go to her with any questions on our employability work, about speaking at events, on our offer to young people and charities, or about supporting our bursary alumni.
She is super passionate about supporting charities and those who come from less advantaged backgrounds to thrive through better more equal opportunities for training and work.
When she’s not at work, Lauren enjoys exploring new cultures, eating yummy food, getting stuck into a good book and channeling her creative side through creating art.
positivity | developer | strategic | connectedness | adaptability
The latest stories from Lauren Roberts on the City & Guilds Foundation website:

City & Guilds Foundation supports new bursary for Black and minority ethnic trainees
The City & Guilds Foundation and Heritage Crafts are delighted to announce a new bursary for Black and minority ethnic trainees in heritage crafts. The first bursary is being awarded to Nkosi Kerr, who moved to the UK from Tobago in 2019. An incredible talent, he was taught carpentry by his father, a well-respected craftsman. With the support of the bursary, Nkosi will complete a Level 3 Bench Joinery course at the Building Crafts College in London setting himself up to make...

Connecting Communities: new free service to support London residents into full time employment
Connecting Communities: Your Bridge to Success Connecting Communities is a free service that can support eligible individuals* into full time employment. There are lots of jobs in the City of London, and Connecting Communities can help individuals by: Improving basic skillsLearning new skillsPreparing for a jobPutting together a CVGaining work experienceAccessing and applying for local jobs To arrange a meeting with one of their experienced Caseworkers, email...
![[Podcast] Lost Opportunities: The Hidden Cost of Caring](https://cityandguildsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/caring-responsibilities-1080x675.jpg)
[Podcast] Lost Opportunities: The Hidden Cost of Caring
To celebrate Young Carers Action Day, Lauren Roberts, our Foundation Advocacy lead invited Rosario Waterlow, Corporate Partnerships Executive to talk about her lived experience of being a young carer and navigating the education system and employment. Listen to hear about what more educators and employers can do support young carers to tackle the growing issues of isolation. At the City & Guilds Foundation we are all about removing the barriers that less advantaged members of our...

City & Guilds launch latest research report and campaign: Great Jobs
Recognising the essential jobs that keep the UK working As the economy reopens, Covid-19 restrictions are loosening and we are continuing to grapple with the impact of Brexit and evolving labour market needs brought about by the fourth industrial revolution and Artificial Intelligence, staffing shortages in essential jobs continue to impact UK businesses. The pandemic highlighted that “Essential jobs” such as HGV drivers and care workers are the lifeblood of Britain’s economy, yet certain...

Lasting relationships, lasting impact
Our bursary programme was set up 21 years ago to help people in genuine financial need to access training programmes. The programme was designed to change people's lives by allowing them to develop their skills - and to this day it remains a core programme of the Foundation. Last year we launched our bursary alumni, bringing together individuals who had been awarded a bursary since 2016 and wish to share their stories and inspire others. One of the most rewarding elements of the...

Youth Voices
It's been a busy few months, with lots of events happening and many opportunities to share mine & the Foundation's views on what we can do to support young people, especially those facing barriers, to engage with employment, now and into their future. Youth Unemployment Committee, House of Lords, 23 March 2021 I was honored to be invited to give evidence at the House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee in March. I was able to give my views on work experience and the benefits it can have...

Championing degree apprenticeships
Since their launch in 2015, the interest and uptake of degree apprenticeships has been great. Last month I was invited to speak at Universities UK Degree apprenticeships conference. The agenda was all about responding to the increased interest in degree apprenticeships. We also looked at the unprecedented challenges not only the sector is facing, but UK economy overall and making sure that degree apprenticeships remain high on the agenda. My session focused on raising the profile of this...

Supporting vulnerable young people to access learning
The City & Guilds Foundation is acutely aware of the challenges facing learners at all levels across the UK, including the many learners who receive support from our charitable partners or directly through the Foundation’s bursary programme. We applaud efforts being made by the UK Government and charities across the country to make the hardware necessary for online learning available to those in need, this support must continue to be rolled out with utmost urgency if we are to...

It’s time to act on digital exclusion
Last month I was invited to speak at the Apprenticeship Diversity & Social Mobility Forum, which aims to bring together leading figures in diversity and inclusion, and experts on social mobility. The series of three annual events was organised by one of our newest partners, the BAME Apprenticeships Alliance, a community of organisations who support diversity in the workplace through policy and advocacy. The...