Career Ready has launched work to help 13,000 disadvantaged young people in Camden & Islington successfully transition from education to rewarding employment.
Working in partnership with employers and schools & colleges in the area, Career Ready will provide disadvantaged students, from Year 7 to Year 13, with the mentoring, paid internships, masterclasses, and wider employment activities needed for the transition to the world of work.
“We’re delighted to be extending our work in Camden & Islington so that we can help 13,000 young people kickstart rewarding futures. Camden & Islington are important boroughs to Career Ready because whilst pockets of affluence do exist here, so does extreme deprivation. Camden & Islington are constantly evolving and have plenty of exciting employment opportunities to offer. However, it’s vital that local young people can access these opportunities and the key to this is connecting employers directly with students.”
Anthony Bruton, Career Ready Regional Manager for Camden & Islington
“We know first-hand from our own students about what they have gained from their experiences of employer engagement, confidence and social capital is much more often valued than skills development. Through workplace visits and work experience, they felt they had access to authentic and persuasive advice which broadens their understanding of the labour market.”
Jasbir Sondhi, College Director Learning Services for Westminster Kingsway College
Students from across Islington and Camden are leaving school & college without the skills, knowledge or opportunities to navigate the job market and reach their true potential. This is particularly prevalent in students from lower-income backgrounds who lack the advantages of their wealthier peers, who are 35% more likely to become high earners.
With 31% of students in Camden and 44% in Islington receiving free school meals*, compared to a national average of 13%, it is crucial that they are given the right support to transition from education to employment.
According to research**, young adults who recall four or more employer-led activities at school are five times less likely to be NEET, and earn on average 18% more than their peers who recall no such activities.
With students experiencing – on average – 9 employer activities, and 98% going onto a positive destination*** after graduation, the Career Ready programme delivers high-impact change to the career opportunities to the lives of young people.
The expansion of Career Ready’s work across Camden & Islington has been made possible thanks to the financial support of the Richard Reeves Foundation and the John Lyon’s Charity.
