The EY Foundation has supported over 4000 young people and social entrepreneurs from July 2018 to June 2019 – an increase of over 150% on last year. We also spread our impact by moving into three new locations in Liverpool, Stoke and Wolverhampton.

Our two flagship programmes – Smart Futures and Our Future – supported young people who qualify for free school meals. 97% of the students taking part received a Chartered Management Institute Level two adult qualification, an increase of 5% on last year.

Delivering four programmes, we support young people facing barriers to securing fulfilling employment and social entrepreneurs to grow their business. By connecting young people to the world of work, the Foundation helps employers to engage diverse, untapped talent with the skills and experience they need. Over the last twelve months we worked with 35% more employers, taking the total to 322 and programme delivery was made possible through the support of over 3400 volunteers. 

Jack, a young person who took part in the Our Future programme, said: ‘I used to be very shy, very nervous and not open to new experiences – that all changed after being on the Our Future programme. Looking to the future, my career hopes are to progress within the construction sector. Without the EY Foundation I would not have believed in myself and I wouldn’t have recognised my potential to have a successful career.’

Headline impact across four programmes:

• Smart Futures is a ten-month employability skills and work experience programme. Participants reported a 28% increase in confidence following the programme.

• Our Future supports young people who face significant barriers to entering the labour market. 26% of students said their presentation skills improved because of the programme.

• Accelerate helps social enterprises to grow and thrive, increasing their impact on local economies and affecting social change in support of young people. 93% of entrepreneurs said they increased turnover after starting the programme

• Employability workshops introduce young people to a range of careers, employability skills training and the chance to meet local employers. 95% of young people said they would recommend the programme to a friend.

See full impact report

Over the next year – and beyond - we will constantly review our approach to ensure we increase our impact in support of young people who most need help to unlock their potential.