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

by Lauren Roberts | 16 Mar 2022 | Awareness Raising, Campaigning, Charity partners, Critical transition points, Lived Experience, Our networks, Podcasts

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

by Lauren Roberts | 1 Mar 2022 | Awareness Raising, Campaigning, City & Guilds initiatives, News

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...

Leading through Black Lives Matter

by Lauren Roberts | 5 Nov 2021 | Awareness Raising, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, News

This Black History Month, we invited diversity and inclusion experts from our network to discuss the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement in our organisations. Listen to the conversation for powerful insights on: Leading in a seismic shiftSustaining the impact of Black Lives MatterDealing with narratives of wokenessCritical leadership styles and qualitiesBlind spots to watch out Event speakers Nelarine Cornelius CCIPD, FRSA, AFBPsS, CPsychol, FBAM, FCIM, PFHEA, FAcSSProfessor of...

Lasting relationships, lasting impact

by Lauren Roberts | 28 Oct 2021 | Bursaries, Critical transition points, Funding, News

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...

[Podcast] Inclusion & Diversity Series: Race inclusion – supporting black talent

by Lauren Roberts | 13 Oct 2021 | Awareness Raising, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, Podcasts

As part of the City & Guilds Foundation Inclusion and diversity events series, offering thought-provoking conversations and actionable steps to promote equal opportunities and improve inclusion and diversity in your organisation. this episode explores the importance of role models and allies in breaking down barriers at work for all ethnic groups. Having visible role models at all levels of a company and across different roles provides concrete evidence and inspiration for ethnically...

Breaking down barriers: race inclusion

by Lauren Roberts | 11 Jun 2021 | Ampersand Awards, Awareness Raising, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, News

This guest post is by Miki Tillet, Lead Learning Designer at Kineo. On Wednesday the 2nd of June, I attended the first in a series of I&D events being hosted throughout the month by the City & Guilds Foundation. This event, which was focused on the topic of race inclusion, featured an insightful and thought-provoking conversation between speakers Frank Douglas (CEO of Caerus Executive and C&G Trustee) and Sophie Williams (anti-racism advocate and author of Anti-Racist...

Youth Voices

by Lauren Roberts | 25 May 2021 | Awareness Raising, City & Guilds initiatives, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, News, Youth engagement

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...

The real impact of the pandemic on young people

by Lauren Roberts | 21 May 2021 | Awards alumni, Charity partners, Critical transition points, News

This guest post is by Anna Kent, Communications Manager at Snow-Camp. Snow-Camp are the UK’s only charity using a combination of snowsports, life-skills training and mental wellbeing support to help young people from inner-city communities. Working at the indoor snow centres in London, the North West, the Midlands and Scotland, we also provide qualifications, work experience and volunteering opportunities to those who would never normally get the chance to access the snowsports industry. In...

Championing degree apprenticeships

by Lauren Roberts | 22 Feb 2021 | Awareness Raising, Campaigning, News, Youth engagement

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

by Lauren Roberts | 15 Jan 2021 | Awareness Raising, Campaigning, Digital poverty, News, Youth engagement

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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