I'm a young person

We run three different programmes that could help you to get the job you want.

Are you looking for paid work experience and to develop the key employability skills employers look for?

Are you ready to get a great start to your future career?

We want to hear from you.

The EY Foundation Programmes are exclusively for young people who are aged 16 and above, and have been recently eligible for free school meals, a college bursary or Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Which programme is right for me?

If you wish to apply directly yourself and you meet the eligibility criteria then either Smart Futures, Step Into Business or Your Future is for you.

Our programmes offer young people paid employability skills training and work experience. We support young people with travel costs through a bursary for those who need help with travel and provide lunch for all young people during the paid employability skills training week.

If you are unsure and have any questions, please email us at enquiries@eyfoundation.ey.com and our friendly team can help!

Our 2023/24 academic programmes are now closed. Please check back from September for applicaitons for our 2024/25 programmes.

Explore your options

Smart Futures

If you are in Year 12 (or S5 in Scotland) and have been recently eligible for free school meals, a college bursary or Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) then you will be eligible to apply.

Your Future

Your Future is a six-month programme for students who want to go straight into work after school, rather than further education at the end of Year 13 (Fifth Year in Scotland). To qualify for the programme you must have been eligible for either Free School Meals or the College Bursary in the last two years.

Step Into Business

Do you have a business idea but not sure on how to set up your own business? This programme supports 16–19-year-olds by increasing their knowledge on how set up a new business and provides opportunity to benefit from 1 to 1 coaching and seed funding for a business idea.

Get useful tips and advice

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The EY Foundation is a charitable company registered in England and Wales and Scotland with registered charity number 1157154 and SC045076. It is also a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited