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Lauren Roberts

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:

[Podcast] Lost Opportunities: The Hidden Cost of Caring

[Podcast] Lost Opportunities: The Hidden Cost of Caring

by | 16 Mar 2022 | , , , , , ,

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...

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City & Guilds launch latest research report and campaign: Great Jobs

City & Guilds launch latest research report and campaign: Great Jobs

by | 1 Mar 2022 | , , ,

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...

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Lasting relationships, lasting impact

Lasting relationships, lasting impact

by | 28 Oct 2021 | , , ,

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...

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Youth Voices

Youth Voices

by | 25 May 2021 | , , , ,

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...

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Championing degree apprenticeships

Championing degree apprenticeships

by | 22 Feb 2021 | , , ,

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...

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Supporting vulnerable young people to access learning

Supporting vulnerable young people to access learning

by | 15 Jan 2021 | , , , ,

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...

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It’s time to act on digital exclusion

It’s time to act on digital exclusion

by | 4 Dec 2020 | , , , ,

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...

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Bringing employability into the classroom

Bringing employability into the classroom

by | 5 Oct 2020 | , , , , ,

Our youth engagement work aims to take a practical approach in informing and helping young people, especially those at risk of becoming NEET, to make more informed choices about their future. One of the biggest barriers young people face when entering the world of work is adapting and settling into a working environment. By giving students the chance to meet employers while still in the classroom setting, we aim to bridge the gap between schools providing support for academic success and...

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Engaging with young people during Covid-19

Engaging with young people during Covid-19

by | 14 Apr 2020 | , , , ,

Our research tells us that long before the pandemic young people often struggle to enter the world of work. Depending on who you know your experience of moving from education to paid work can be a real struggle and one in which many obstacles must be overcome. Through our Youth Engagement work we strive to take a practical approach in informing and helping young people who may be at risk of becoming NEET, to make more informed choices about their future. Our main focus is creating engaging and...

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